Thirteen original essays by leading scholars explore aspects of Spinoza's ethical theory and, in doing so, deepen our understanding of the richly rewarding core of his system. Given its importance to his philosophical ambitions, it is surprising that his ethics has, until recently, received relatively little scholarly attention. Anglophone philosophy has tended to focus on Spinoza's contribution to metaphysics and epistemology, while philosophy in continental Europe has tended to show greater interest in his political philosophy. This tendency is problematic not only because it overlooks a central part of Spinoza's project, but also because it threatens to present a distorted picture of his philosophy. Moreover, Spinoza's ethics, like other branches of his philosophy, is complex, difficult, and, at times, paradoxical. The essays in this volume advance our understanding of his ethics and also help us to appreciate it as the centerpiece of his system. In addition to resolving interpretive difficulties and advancing longstanding debates, these essays point the direction for future research. Spinoza's enduring contribution to the development of ethical theory, to early modern philosophy, and indeed to early modern history generally, provide us with good reason to follow the lead of these essays.

About the Author
Andrew Youpa is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is the author of articles on Spinoza's ethical theory, and articles on the ethical theories of Descartes and Leibniz. He earned his PhD from the University of California, Irvine. Matthew J. Kisner is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina. His research focuses on the history of early modern ethics, particularly issues pertaining to freedom, agency and the passions. He is the author of Spinoza on Human Freedom: Reason, Autonomy and the Good Life (Cambridge University Press, 2011). He earned his PhD from the University of California, San Diego.

Reviews
The papers are uniformly clear and well-written. All are solid; several are first-rate; a few make real contributions to our understanding of the ethics of the Ethics...the essays are worth reading-for the clarity of the writing, the quality of the analysis, and the careful attention to the text. Taken together these essays provide a valuable map of the conceptual terrain and a vivid picture of the current state of critical scholarship. * J. Thomas Cook, Journal of the History of Philosophy *
a cohesive and engaging set of essays . . . The editors and contributors should be congratulated . . . the introduction by Matthew Kisner and Andrew Youpa is a thoughtful overview of the terrain that also provides a useful integration of the chapters that follow. If you are studying Spinoza's ethical theory, you need this book, * Charlie Huenemann, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199657537
Author Matthew J. Kisner
Format Hardback
Page Count 298
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 606g
Dimensions(mm) 241mm * 162mm * 24mm