Spinoza on Human Freedom

Reason, Autonomy and the Good Life

Matthew J. Kisner (University of South Carolina)

$143.95

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Cambridge University Press
10 February 2011

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: 234mm, Width: 159mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 570g
ISBN: 9780521198882
ISBN 10: 0521198887
Pages: 274
Publication Date: 10 February 2011
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
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