Out of Control

Richard A. Cohen is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Jewish Thought at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. His books include Ricoeur as Another: The Ethics of Subjectivity (coedited with James L. Marsh) and Face to Face with Levinas, both also published by SUNY Press.

"This is an incisive, deep analysis of two philosophers, offering important critiques of Spinoza in particular; its thinking points about different ways of prioritizing such issues as the state, human relations, the body, and religion are potent and vital, from which many readers will benefit." — H-Net Reviews (H-Judaic)"Cohen's work here is nothing short of spectacular. His analysis of the mathematical and scientific foundations of Spinoza's philosophy is exemplary. Lucidly, meticulously, and with very disciplined analysis he conveys the force, power, and influence of Spinoza's philosophy on contemporary religious thought." — Richard I. Sugarman, University of Vermont"Richard Cohen has managed to not merely bring these two notoriously difficult philosophers into conversation with each other, but to do so in an extremely readable way. Indeed, he is able to explain extremely difficult philosophical disputes with clarity and to convey a palpable sense of excitement." — Robert Erlewine, author of Monotheism and Tolerance: Recovering a Religion of Reason

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1. Levinas, Spinozism, Nietzsche, and the Body2. Prophetic Speech in Levinas and Spinoza (and Maimonides)3. Levinas and Spinoza: To Love God for Nothing4. Levinas and Spinoza: Justice and the State5. Spinoza’s Prince: For Whom Is the Theological-Political Treatise Written?6. Levinas on Spinoza’s Misunderstanding of Judaism7. Thinking Least about Death: Mortality and Morality in Spinoza, Heidegger, and Levinas8. Spinoza’s Spleen: "Babies, Fools, and Madmen"Works CitedIndex