BASC50094 - Spinoza as Radical Enlightenment Thinker: Ethics & Political Thought

Course Description

Baruch Spinoza was one of the most influential and controversial figures of the Enlightenment era. His groundbreaking work, Ethics, sought to correct logical inconsistencies in the writing of Descartes—and ultimately provided a radical new definition of freedom and choice. Ethics also introduced an understanding of the relationship between the human and divine that challenged Christian dogma and went on to influence German idealism, Nietzsche, and twentieth-century philosophy. In this course, students will engage in a close reading of Ethics, which will be supplemented by two other works by Spinoza: the Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect and selections from the Theological-Political Treatise.

Course Outline

Textbooks

1. Baruch Spinoza, Ethics, Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect, and Selected Letters, Hackett, ISBN 978-0872201309

2. Spinoza, Theologico-Political Treatise, Hackett, ISBN 978-0872206076

Notes

Online registration deadline: Thursday, March 24, 5 pm CT.