An important and original study of Spinoza's moral and political philosophy and his engagement with Stoicism.
Spinoza and the Stoics
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"'Although the link between Spinoza and Stoicism has been explored to a certain extent... DeBrabander's is the first book-length study. As such it cannot be valued too highly... this is an interesting and stimulating book, and one any student of Spinoza should read.' Theo Verbeek, University of Utrecht - for Notre Dame Philosophy Review, Nov 10, 2007"
About the Author
Firmin DeBrabander is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Maryland Institute College of Art, USA.
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3.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Freeing Spinoza from the Stoics
22 Jun 2007
By Daniel A. Spiro
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
As a Spinoza enthusiast, I've heard way too many glib efforts over the years to link Spinoza to the Stoics. Thankfully, we finally have a book -- and a very well written one at that -- that analyzes how Spinoza borrows from the Stoics and how his philosophy departs from theirs. DeBrabander's Spinoza comes across as altogether different from the model Stoic philosopher. Rather than burying the emotions beneath that Leviathan known as the Stoic capacity for "self control," Spinoza is shown to be a philosopher who respects the power of passions. In fact, DeBrabander's Spinoza embraces the passions as the "path to salvation."
Well, OK. I'm not exactly suggesting the hero of this book is a wine-woman-and-song hedonist. But I couldn't help but enjoy the vitality of the Spinozist philosopher portrayed in this book. It is infinitely more attractive than, say, the ascetic stereotype of the Spinozist depicted in I.B. Singer's "The Spinoza of Market Street."
"Spinoza and the Stoics" may sound like a narrow topic for a book, but it covers quite a range of topics. Politics, ethics, theology, and psychology are all discussed at some length. For me, the single greatest portion of this work is its ending, in which DeBrabander demonstrates that Spinoza should no more be thought of as a utilitarian than as a Stoic. I am slated to teach a Spinoza workshop next month and very much look forward to sharing with the group verbatim this book's beautiful and insightful conclusion.
Well, OK. I'm not exactly suggesting the hero of this book is a wine-woman-and-song hedonist. But I couldn't help but enjoy the vitality of the Spinozist philosopher portrayed in this book. It is infinitely more attractive than, say, the ascetic stereotype of the Spinozist depicted in I.B. Singer's "The Spinoza of Market Street."
"Spinoza and the Stoics" may sound like a narrow topic for a book, but it covers quite a range of topics. Politics, ethics, theology, and psychology are all discussed at some length. For me, the single greatest portion of this work is its ending, in which DeBrabander demonstrates that Spinoza should no more be thought of as a utilitarian than as a Stoic. I am slated to teach a Spinoza workshop next month and very much look forward to sharing with the group verbatim this book's beautiful and insightful conclusion.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
17 Oct 2009
By Malcolm Schosha
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The subject the influence of Stoicism on Spinoza is of considerable interest, but this book in many sections presents nothing better to represent Stoic thinking than a two dimensional characterture of the Stoic sage and without bothering to explain the difference between a Stoic sage (a theoretical construct that Stoics found useful) and the Stoic philosophers (the living practitioners of Stoicism who were so prominent and active in the Hellenistic world). The author's frequent use of that characterture as a basis for comparison with the philosophy of Spinoza produces an unsatisfying result.
The book does discuss many interesting and thought provoking points, but it nevertheless disappointing because it could have been a much better book than it actually is.
The book does discuss many interesting and thought provoking points, but it nevertheless disappointing because it could have been a much better book than it actually is.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Prosaic
22 Aug 2012
By J. Chiu
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
The Spinoza literature is rapidly increasing -- particularly for a thinker who is not a favorite of the Analytic School of Anglo-American philosophy.
As another reviewer has said here, the picture of Stoicism here has some detail, but is off target as the broader significance of Stoicism is not recognized, and hence, the picture of Spinoza is necessarily unbalanced. So the volume is readable if not particularly perceptive or original. There are so many wonderful and creative works on Spinoza (even the modest biography of Gullan Whur has merit), that I suggest non-academic readers look elsewhere.
However, I do have reduce the rating by one star for the author's recent article in the New York Times trying to lasso Spinoza's profound ideas to support the current President. It's highly doubtful that Obama's criticism of the private sector is sustained by Spinoza's concept of the 'deus sive natur'. I'm grateful, however, that the author didn't impute godlike qualities to contemporary politicians (of any stripe).
As another reviewer has said here, the picture of Stoicism here has some detail, but is off target as the broader significance of Stoicism is not recognized, and hence, the picture of Spinoza is necessarily unbalanced. So the volume is readable if not particularly perceptive or original. There are so many wonderful and creative works on Spinoza (even the modest biography of Gullan Whur has merit), that I suggest non-academic readers look elsewhere.
However, I do have reduce the rating by one star for the author's recent article in the New York Times trying to lasso Spinoza's profound ideas to support the current President. It's highly doubtful that Obama's criticism of the private sector is sustained by Spinoza's concept of the 'deus sive natur'. I'm grateful, however, that the author didn't impute godlike qualities to contemporary politicians (of any stripe).
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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