Spinoza's Philosophy of Law (Studies in Philosophy)

After an extensive introduction that takes stock of the relevant research literature on Old Age in the Middle Ages and the early modern age, the contributors discuss the phenomenon of old age in many different fields of late antique, medieval, and early modern literature, history, and art history. Both Beowulf and the Hildebrandslied, both Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and Titurel, both the figure of Merlin and the trans-European tradition of Perceval/Peredur/Parzival, then the figure of the vetula in a variety of medieval French, English, and Spanish texts, and of the Old Man in The Stricker's Daniel, both the treatment of old age in Langland's Piers the Plowman and in Jean Gerson's sermons are dealt with. Other aspects involve late-antique epistolary literature, early modern French farce in light of Disability Studies, the social role of old, impotent men in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Netherlandish paintings, and the scientific discourse of old age and health since the 1500s. The discourse of Old Age proves to have been of central importance throughout the ages, so the critical examination of the issues involved sheds intriguing light on the cultural history from late antiquity to the seventeenth century. Preface Introduction: The Concept of Law in General I. The Concept of Civil Law in Spinoza A. The Definition of Civil Law B. The Instrumentality of Law C. The Limits of Legal Jurisdiction D. Obedience to Law E. The Connection between the Validity and Efficacy of a Law F. Law as the Will of the Sovereign G. International Law H. Law as a Means of the State II. The Natural Divine Law; The Natural Law; Natural Right; and Ceremonial Law in Spinoza A. The Natural Divine Law B. The Law of the Prophets or the Ceremonial Law C. The Natural Law D. Human Laws E. The Natural Laws of Human Nature F. Natural Right III. The Ethical Dimension and the Moral Law in Spinoza A. Two Apparent Difficulties with the Notion of a Moral Law B. The Meaning of Morality C. The Rational Principle and Freedom D. The Moral Law as Law Improper E. Relation to the Natural Divine Law F. Key to Relations among Men G. The Sphere of Relevance of the Moral Law H. Certain Difficulties Reconsidered IV. The Relation Between Civil Law and a Higher Law in Spinoza A. General Considerations B. The End of Civil Law C. The Validity of a Civil Law D. The Duty of the Subject and of the Sovereign E. The Relation between Law and Morality V. Problems of Legal Theory A. The Problem of the Evaluation of Law B. The Problem of the Source of Law C. The Problem of Judicial Legislation D. The Problem of Stability and Change in the Law E. The Problem of the Limits to Sovereignty and the Jurisdiction of Law F. The Problem of the End of Law and of the Duty of the Subject and the Sovereign G. Conclusion Appendix A Notes on the Classical Doctrine of Natural Law Appendix B Latin Quotations from Spinoza Selected Bibliography Index