Spinoza Contra Phenomenology: French Rationalism from Cavaillès to Deleuze (Cultural Memory in the Present)

__Spinoza Contra Phenomenology__ fundamentally recasts the history of postwar French thought, which is typically presumed by detractors and celebrants alike to have been driven by a critique of reason indebted above all to Nietzsche and Heidegger. Although the reception of German phenomenology gave rise to many of the most innovative developments in French philosophy, from existentialism to deconstruction, not everyone in France was pleased with this German import. The book recounts how a series of French philosophers used Spinoza's rationalism to erect a bulwark against the nominally irrationalist tendencies of Husserl's and Heidegger's thought in France. From its beginnings in the interwar years in philosophy of science and the history of philosophy, this Spinozist rationalism would prove foundational for Louis Althusser's rethinking of Marxism and Gilles Deleuze's ambitious metaphysics. There has been a renewed enthusiasm for Spinozism in various quarters of late by those who would see it as a kind of neo-vitalism or philosophy of life and affect. Peden bucks the trend by tracking a decisive and neglected aspect of Spinoza's philosophy—his rationalism—in a body of thought too often presumed to have rejected reason. In the process, he demonstrates that the critical resources of Spinoza's rationalism have yet to be exhausted today. Spinoza Contra Phenomenology Fundamentally Recasts The History Of Postwar French Thought, Which Is Typically Presumed By Detractors And Celebrants Alike To Have Been Driven By A Critique Of Reason Indebted Above All To Nietzsche And Heidegger. Although The Reception Of German Phenomenology Gave Rise To Many Of The Most Innovative Developments In French Philosophy, From Existentialism To Deconstruction, Not Everyone In France Was Pleased With This German Import. The Book Recounts How A Series Of French Philosophers Used Spinoza's Rationalism To Erect A Bulwark Against The Nominally Irrationalist Tendencies Of Husserl's And Heidegger's Thought In France. From Its Beginnings In The Interwar Years In Philosophy Of Science And The History Of Philosophy, This Spinozist Rationalism Would Prove Foundational For Louis Althusser's Rethinking Of Marxism And Gilles Deleuze's Ambitious Metaphysics. There Has Been A Renewed Enthusiasm For Spinozism In Various Quarters Of Late By Those Who Would See It As A Kind Of Neo-vitalism Or Philosophy Of Life And Affect. Peden Bucks The Trend By Tracking A Decisive And Neglected Aspect Of Spinoza's Philosophy--his Rationalism--in A Body Of Thought Too Often Presumed To Have Rejected Reason. In The Process, He Demonstrates That The Critical Resources Of Spinoza's Rationalism Have Yet To Be Exhausted Today. Introduction : Spinozism : A Source Of Enthusiasm -- From Consciousness To The Concept : The Spinozism Of Jean Cavaillès -- Spinoza Contra Descartes : Martial Gueroult Versus Ferdinand Alquié -- From Stalinism To Asceticism : Jean-toussaint Desanti Between Spinoza And Husserl -- Recuperating Science : The Sources Of Louis Althusser's Spinozism -- Redefining Philosophy : The Development Of Louis Althusser's Spinozism -- Toward A Science Of The Singular : Gilles Deleuze Between Heidegger And Spinoza -- Nothing Is Possible : The Strange Spinozism Of Gilles Deleuze -- Conclusion : The Sense Of Spinozism. Knox Peden. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Spinoza Contra Phenomenology fundamentally recasts the history of postwar French thought, typically presumed to have been driven by a critique of reason indebted to Nietzsche and Heidegger. Although the reception of phenomenology gave rise to many innovative developments in French philosophy, from existentialism to deconstruction, not everyone in France was pleased with this German import. This book recounts how a series of French philosophers used Spinoza to erect a bulwark against the nominally irrationalist tendencies of phenomenology. From its beginnings in the interwar years, this rationalism would prove foundational for Althusser's rethinking of Marxism and Deleuze's ambitious metaphysics. There has been a renewed enthusiasm for Spinozism of late by those who see it as a kind of neo-vitalism or philosophy of life and affect. Peden counters this trend by tracking a decisive and neglected aspect of Spinoza;s philosophy-his rationalism-in a body of thought too often presumed to have rejected reason. In the process, he demonstrates that the virtues of Spinoza's rationalism have yet to be exhausted. Book jacket Spinoza Contra Phenomenology fundamentally recasts the history of postwar French thought, typically presumed to have been driven by a critique of reason indebted to Nietzsche and Heidegger. Although the reception of phenomenology gave rise to many innovative developments in French philosophy, from existentialism to deconstruction, not everyone in France was pleased with this German import. This book recounts how a series of French philosophers used Spinoza to erect a bulwark against the nominally irrationalist tendencies of phenomenology. From its beginnings in the interwar years, this rationalism would prove foundational for Althusser's rethinking of Marxism and Deleuze's ambitious metaphysics. There has been a renewed enthusiasm for Spinozism of late by those who see his work as a kind of neo-vitalism or philosophy of life and affect. Peden counters this trend by tracking a decisive and neglected aspect of Spinoza's philosophy—his rationalism—in a body of thought too often presumed to have rejected reason. In the process, he demonstrates that the virtues of Spinoza's rationalism have yet to be exhausted. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 List of Abbreviations 14 Introduction. Spinozism: A Source of Enthusiasm 18 1. From Consciousness to the Concept: The Spinozism of Jean Cavaill猫s 34 2. Spinoza Contra Descartes: Martial Gueroult versus Ferdinand Alqui茅 82 3. From Stalinism to Asceticism: Jean-Toussaint Desanti between Spinoza and Husserl 112 4. Recuperating Science: The Sources of Louis Althusser鈥檚 Spinozism 144 5. Redefining Philosophy: The Development of Louis Althusser鈥檚 Spinozism 166 6. Toward a Science of the Singular: Gilles Deleuze between Heidegger and Spinoza 208 7. Nothing Is Possible: The Strange Spinozism of Gilles Deleuze 237 Conclusion: The Sense of Spinozism 274 Notes 284 Bibliography 336 Index 358