Spinoza Past and Present—Essays on Spinoza, Spinozism, and Spinoza Scholarship

Even the name of the excommunicated Jewish-Dutch philosopher is controversial: should Spinoza (1632-1677) be referred to as Baruch or Benedict? In this valuable contribution to Spinoza scholarship, Bunge (history of philosophy, Erasmus U. Rotterdam) compiles chapters based largely on his previously published material from 1995-2012--some translated from the Dutch. Based on readings of Tractatus theologico-politicus and other works, he addresses issues of the extent to which the Enlightenment philosopher can be considered to be a materialist philosopher or even a 'Spinozist.' Insights are presented on the core issues of his scientific moral philosophy and their interpretations, in the contexts of censorship in the 17th-century Dutch Republic, later Dutch reactions to his radical ideas, and current European debates on the Enlightenment. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Wiep van Bunge, Ph.D. (1990), Erasmus University Rotterdam, is Professor of the History of Philosophy and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at that university. He has published widely on the history of philosophy in the Dutch Republic.