Spinoza

by Roger Scruton

Book Overview

Father of the Enlightenment and the last guardian of the medieval world, Spinoza made a brilliant attempt to reconcile the conflicting moral and intellectual demands of his epoch and to present a vision of man as simultaneously bound by necessity and eternally free. Ostracized by the Jewish community in Amsterddam to which he was born, Spinoza developed a political philosophy that set out to justify the secular state ruled by a liberal constitution,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192803166
• ISBN13: 9780192803160
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Interesting and insightful

This is an interesting and insightful interpretation of Spinoza. Contrary to another reviewer's assertion, a careful reading of the text reveals that Scruton is not referring to Spinoza when he employs the phrase "false prophet of atheism". In fact, Scruton seems to consider Spinoza's system to be an ususual form of theism. Whether Spinoza's vision is actually theistic, pantheistic or atheistic is a matter of debate among commentators, but Scruton's book is generally well thought-out and presented.

There is much to learn from this insightful introduction

Scruton provides an excellent short biography of Spinoza's life and a good description of the world in which he lived. He invokes the biographical memoir of a contemporary and friend of Spinoza, Colerus. Scruton says " From this we learn of the simplicity and naturalness of Spinoza's life and character, and of the high esteem in which he was held by acquaintances and friends. The seclusion of Spinoza's life was necessitated by intense labour and intellectual discipline , and his frugality expressed independence of spirit rather than meanness of self- concern." Scruton speaks of the magnificence and ambition of the last great Latin masterpiece, Spinoza's 'Ethics'. He has chapters on Spinoza's view of God, of Man, of Freedom,and one on his legacy. This is a rich work from which much can be learned. As Scruton says for Spinoza "scientific objectivity and divine worship " are the two forms of freedom. Spinoza for Will Durant was the one philosopher who lived as he wrote. This short work gives evidence of this congruence between work and life.

The best introduction to Spinoza

Scruton's "Spinoza" is an excellent introduction. Although Spinoza is not in vogue, Scruton reminds us of why it is important to study "past masters." I recommend that anyone that intends to read Spinoza's "Ethics" first read Scruton's introduction. By reading Scruton first, the reader will have a much more enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

An excellent introduction to Spinoza

Although I read Spinoza's "Ethics" as an undergraduate, I didn't remember much about Spinoza until I recently read Scruton's essay. I put a copy of this small book in the pocket of my suit coat and forgot about it until I was at the airport waiting for a flight. As I was starting to get bored, I remembered the book, pulled it out, and read it. As with all of Scruton's books, "Spinoza" is beautifully written and a joy to read. Scruton has the ability to make philosophy come alive, and his short works on the philosophers are a welcome oasis in our hectic age.

An excellent short introduction to Spinoza's thought.

It is not easy to boil down Spinoza's thought into a short introduction, but Roger Scruton has done a workmanlike job of it. The broad outlines of Spinoza's philosophy are here presented thoroughly and accurately -- of course with some sacrifice of depth, but the result is luminously intelligible. This slim and highly accessible volume may be the best introduction available to the philosophy of rationalism's greatest "saint."