A Spinoza Reader：The Ethics and Other Works

ThisanthologyoftheworkofBaruchdeSpinoza(1632-1677)presentsthetextofSpinoza'smasterwork,theEthics,inwhatisnowthestandardtranslationbyEdwinCurley.AlsoincludedareselectionsfromotherworksbySpinoza,chosenbyCurleytomaketheEthicseasiertounderstand,andasubstantialintroductionthatgivesanoverviewofSpinoza'slifeandthemainthemesofhisphilosophy.Perfectforcourseuse,theSpinozaReaderisapracticaltoolwithwhichtoapproachoneoftheworld'sgreatestbutmostdifficultthinkers,apassionateseekerofthetruthwhohasbeenviewedbysomeasanatheistandbyothersasareligiousmystic.TheanthologybeginswiththeopeningsectionoftheTreatiseontheEmendationoftheIntellect,whichhasalwaysmovedreadersbyitsdescriptionoftheyoungSpinoza'sspiritualquest,hisdissatisfactionwiththethingspeopleordinarilystrivefor--wealth,honor,andsensualpleasure--andhishopethatthepursuitofknowledgewouldleadhimtodiscoverthetruegood.Theemphasisthroughouttheseselectionsisonmetaphysical,epistemological,andreligiousissues:theexistenceandnatureofGod,hisrelationtotheworld,thenatureofthehumanmindanditsrelationtothebody,andthetheoryofdemonstration,axioms,anddefinitions.Foreachofthesetopics,theeditorsupplementstherigorousdiscussionsintheEthicswithinformaltreatmentsfromSpinoza'sotherworks.