Spinoza on Human Freedom

Reason, Autonomy and the Good Life

Matthew J. Kisner (University of South Carolina)

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English

Cambridge University Press
05 December 2013

Philosophy; Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900; Ethics & moral philosophy; History of ideas

Spinoza was one of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment, but his often obscure metaphysics makes it difficult to understand the ultimate message of his philosophy. Although he regarded freedom as the fundamental goal of his ethics and politics, his theory of freedom has not received sustained, comprehensive treatment. Spinoza holds that we attain freedom by governing ourselves according to practical principles, which express many of our deepest moral commitments. Matthew J. Kisner focuses on this theory and presents an alternative picture of the ethical project driving Spinoza's philosophical system. His study of the neglected practical philosophy provides an accessible and concrete picture of what it means to live as Spinoza's ethics envisioned.

By: Matthew J. Kisner (University of South Carolina)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 370g
ISBN: 9781107669260
ISBN 10: 110766926X
Pages: 274
Publication Date: 05 December 2013
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Abbreviations and translations; Introduction: beyond therapy; 1. Freedom as rationality; 2. Justifying Spinoza's conception of freedom; 3. Autonomy and responsibility; 4. Freedom and happiness; 5. The good; 6. The natural law; 7. Benevolence; 8. The free man; 9. Rational deliberation; 10. The character of freedom; 11. The freedom of the citizen; Conclusion: 'the true freedom of man'; Bibliography; Index.

Matthew J. Kisner is Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina. He has previously published articles on a variety of topics in early modern philosophy, including Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza and Malebranche.

Reviews for Spinoza on Human Freedom: Reason, Autonomy and the Good Life

'... this is an admirable reframing of Spinoza's ethical project. Kisner is correct to assign a central role to human passivity in Spinoza and doing so leads him to some very interesting ethical conclusions ... Given that the majority of the literature before now has presented Spinoza's philosophy as overly austere and almost inhuman ... Kisner's interpretation is a much needed corrective, one that has much to offer in its own right.' Eugene Marshall, Mind