Spinoza and the Politics of Freedom

AvDan Taylor

Häftad, Engelska, 2022

Del i serien Spinoza Studies

274 kr

Skickas . Fri frakt över 249 kr.

Fler format och utgåvor

Inbunden

1 169 kr

Beskrivning

Reconceives human freedom in Spinoza as intrinsically social and politically committedOffers a reading fluent in Spinoza's Latin that presents new textual findings from recent critical editions of his works as well as emerging French scholarshipCritically engages with a diverse set of hermeneutic traditions in Spinoza studies, including historicist, continental and analytic approaches, as well as those of different political backgrounds like Marxism, feminism, liberalism and deep ecologyPresents a new analysis of key Spinozan and 'neo-Spinozist' concepts like the conatus, desire, freedom, collective power, the multitude, voluntary servitude and the politicisation of joyous affectsContextualises and debates Spinoza's accounts of collective power, democracy, agency and desire with past and present critical theoryCombining careful historical and textual analysis with comparisons across past and present political theory, this book re-establishes Spinoza as a collectivist philosopher.Taking as its starting point the formative role of fear in Spinoza's thought, Dan Taylor argues that Spinoza's vision of human freedom and power is realised socially and collectively. He offers a new critical study of the collectivist Spinoza, where we can become freer through desire, friendship, the imagination and transforming the social institutions that structure a given community. A freedom for one and all, attuned to the vicissitudes of human life and the capabilities of each one of us to live up to the demands and constraints of our limited autonomy.This book develops and enriches the continental tradition of Spinozism, drawing on a range of untranslated materials and bringing a fresh perspective to key debates. It repositions Spinoza as the central thinker of desire and freedom and demonstrates how the conflicts within his work inform contemporary theoretical discussions around democracy, the multitude, populism and power.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2022-12-05
Mått:156 x 234 x 22 mm
Vikt:470 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Spinoza Studies
Antal sidor:304
Förlag:Edinburgh University Press
ISBN:9781474478403

Utforska kategorier

Filosofiska discipliner inom Filosofi och religion

Mer om författaren

Dan Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at the Open University. He specialises in political theory and British politics. He’s the author of three books including Spinoza and the Politics of Freedom (Edinburgh University Press, 2021), and Island Story: Journeys Through Unfamiliar Britain (shortlisted for the Orwell Prize in 2017). In 2023 he was awarded the title BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker.

Recensioner i media

This book by Dan Taylor, Lecturer at the Open University in England, is a testament to the growing dynamism of Spinoza studies in Britain in recent years, especially but not only in the political thought of the philosopher. … His emphasis on collectivity and on the collective character of freedom in particular gives the book its specificity. … The proposed analyses are precise, sometimes inventive, but always well grounded in the texts. … Taylor is indeed endowed with a real talent for narrating philosophy: he knows how to construct a narrative that reads with the ease of a novel without ever compromising the philosophical analysis. This is a rare ability that allows the reader to share with the author the obvious pleasure he took in writing his book, for this very reason destined to be well received by a much wider readership than that of "professional" Spinozists.

Innehållsförteckning

AbbreviationsIntroduction. Masaniello’s Moment 1. ServitudePrejudices of Nature Defining Servitude Political SlaveryTakeover2. Nature Natural Right Laws of Nature One with Nature The Black Jew Part 2. Desiring Freedom3. Power Potentia/Potestas Freedom ConatusMany Into One Infinite Space4. Desire Consciousness Akrasia Educating Joy Walking the Path Part 3. Commonality 5. Becoming Collective The Broken Middle CollectivityThe Unanimity Outline From Vulgus to PopulusInterdependence (or, on Sartre misreading Spinoza)6. We ImaginePhilosophy and Theology True Prophets Jesus Christ, Prophet–Philosopher A Collectivity to Come 7. The State Freedom is the State The Free Multitude Popular Government Becoming CivilThe Living StateCadenza. Prudentissimo Viro8. RevolutionIs it Reasonable to Rebel? Indignation EmulationPopulism for SpinozistsConclusion. For One and AllAcknowledgementsBibliography