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Spinoza's Ethics: An Edinburgh Philosophical Guide
A step-by-step guide to Spinoza's Ethics.The Ethics presents a complete metaphysical, epistemological and ethical world-view that is immensely inspiring. However, it is also an extremely difficult text to read. This book takes readers through the text, stopping at the most perplexing passages to explain key terms, unfold arguments, offer concrete examples and raise questions for further thought. It is designed to be read alongside the Ethics, enabling students to think critically about Spinoza's views and build an understanding of his complex system.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 10, 2023
A Philosophical Guide To Spinoza's Ethics
Interest in Spinoza (1632 -- 1677) has increased dramatically in recent years. Besides the studies of the philosopher and his influence by Jonathan Israel and Steven Nadler, for example, there have been several shorter, more popular works for the general reader including Rebecca Goldstein's study, "Betraying Spinoza" and Irwin Yalom's novel, "The Spinoza Problem". Beth Lord's short book, "Spinoza's Ethics" (2010) takes an approach different from these. It is an introductory study of and commentary on Spinoza's "Ethics" in which Spinoza develops his philosophy in detail. The book is part of a series called "Indiana Philosophical Guides" in which a seminal philosophical work is explored for new readers. Beth Lord teaches philosophy at the University of Dundee, Scotland. She has written extensively about Spinoza, for example her book, "Kant and Spinozism: Transcendental Idealism and Immanence from Jacobi to Deleuze (Renewing Philosophy)".
What draws people to Spinoza and to study a notoriously difficult book such as the "Ethics"? Lord writes: "Spinoza gives us a programme for being human beings in the best way possible -- a programme based on a deep understanding of the nature of reality that anyone can attain. He leads us on a journey that reveals to us the truth about what we are and our place in the universe. Understanding the truth about ourselves is the basis for positive human relationships, true scientific knowledge and good political organization." A friend recently asked me about the basis for my longstanding fascination with Spinoza. I replied much more cryptically than Lord, "Release from theism and final causes. An attempt to combine a secular outlook with ethics. Emotional and intellectual freedom and liberation." The book is one of a small number of works with the ability to change perspectives and lives. As Lord writes, "perhaps the best reason for reading Spinoza's "Ethics" is this: it is a book that may change your life."
Lord writes primarily for students approaching the "Ethics" closely for the first time, say in the context of a course. As she points out, her book will also help other readers coming to the work for the first time or readers who want to revisit or remind themselves of the key elements of the book after a time away. Her goal is to engage the reader with Spinoza's text and arguments, regardless of whether the reader finds Spinoza convincing. Lord offers good advice to the reader about approaching Spinoza or any philosophical text:
"When you come to critically assess the "Ethics', adopt a principle of interpretive generosity. Do not assume that Spinoza must be wrong because his ideas are old, unfamiilar or do not seem to meet with your experience. Try to understand the text on its own terms and evaluate it according to its philosophical merits."
Although the book includes a wonderfully challenging bibliography, Lord does not presuppose a great deal of prior knowledge of Spinoza. She works, and encourages the reader to pay attention to, the text of the "Ethics" itself. She refers frequently to Descartes to bring out the features of Spinoza's thinking, and she makes some perceptive comparisons of Spinoza and Nietzsche. Lord also uses Spinoza's correspondence in an attempt to clarify some of the difficulties of the "Ethics".
The heart of the book is called simply "A Guide to the Text" and includes five parts, corresponding to each of the major divisions of the "Ethics". The longest sections are those which deal with the first two parts of the book, which Lord calls, "Being, Substance, God, Nature", and "Minds, Bodies, Experience, Knowledge." These are the sections of the "Ethics" which remain most often emphasized in philosophy courses. Lord also offers a careful, insightful treatment of Spinoza's treatment of the passions and of ethics itself in the next two and one-half parts of the "Ethics". As does every reader, Lord struggles with the second half of Part V. Her expositions are clear and tied carefully to what Spinoza says. Each section is broken into shorter sections with good topic headings. Lord cross-references frequently among various sections of the "Ethics" to help the student understand the relationship among the parts. Several good diagrams help the reader approach the dizzying abstractions of Spinoza's thinking.
Every philosophical commentary is itself a philosophical work in its own right. Lord proves herself highly sympathetic to Spinoza's thought and approach. She mentions many of the difficulties that students have found in all parts of the "Ethics" and offers arguments to resolve these difficulties in a way that saves Spinoza's insights. In this, she adopts the principles of "interpretive generosity" that she recommends to her readers. Many readers over the years have been more critical of Spinoza and have found large amounts of inconsistency or obscurity in his writing. Lord wants to expound the philosophy while encouraging the reader to engage with it and perhaps reserve criticism until the book is broadly understood. Following her exposition of the first four and one-half sections of the "Ethics", Lord offers her own summation, which states in part:
"If we align our finite existence as far as we can with the true order and connection of ideas and activities that is our essence, we will be more rational, more active, and more free. We will be less affected by our passions, will maximize our physical and thinking capacities and act with greater virtue, and our love for all being and knowledge will increase. Our lives are best directed at 'unconfusing' our minds and bodies from the mess of passions and external things, so that we clearly, distinctly, truly, adequately actualize our essence."
Lord's book reminded me about why I have remained fascinated with Spinoza over the years. Her book admirably serves its purpose of offering a philosophical guide to new readers wanting to engage seriously with the "Ethics" of Spinoza.
Robin Friedman
Interest in Spinoza (1632 -- 1677) has increased dramatically in recent years. Besides the studies of the philosopher and his influence by Jonathan Israel and Steven Nadler, for example, there have been several shorter, more popular works for the general reader including Rebecca Goldstein's study, "Betraying Spinoza" and Irwin Yalom's novel, "The Spinoza Problem". Beth Lord's short book, "Spinoza's Ethics" (2010) takes an approach different from these. It is an introductory study of and commentary on Spinoza's "Ethics" in which Spinoza develops his philosophy in detail. The book is part of a series called "Indiana Philosophical Guides" in which a seminal philosophical work is explored for new readers. Beth Lord teaches philosophy at the University of Dundee, Scotland. She has written extensively about Spinoza, for example her book, "Kant and Spinozism: Transcendental Idealism and Immanence from Jacobi to Deleuze (Renewing Philosophy)".
What draws people to Spinoza and to study a notoriously difficult book such as the "Ethics"? Lord writes: "Spinoza gives us a programme for being human beings in the best way possible -- a programme based on a deep understanding of the nature of reality that anyone can attain. He leads us on a journey that reveals to us the truth about what we are and our place in the universe. Understanding the truth about ourselves is the basis for positive human relationships, true scientific knowledge and good political organization." A friend recently asked me about the basis for my longstanding fascination with Spinoza. I replied much more cryptically than Lord, "Release from theism and final causes. An attempt to combine a secular outlook with ethics. Emotional and intellectual freedom and liberation." The book is one of a small number of works with the ability to change perspectives and lives. As Lord writes, "perhaps the best reason for reading Spinoza's "Ethics" is this: it is a book that may change your life."
Lord writes primarily for students approaching the "Ethics" closely for the first time, say in the context of a course. As she points out, her book will also help other readers coming to the work for the first time or readers who want to revisit or remind themselves of the key elements of the book after a time away. Her goal is to engage the reader with Spinoza's text and arguments, regardless of whether the reader finds Spinoza convincing. Lord offers good advice to the reader about approaching Spinoza or any philosophical text:
"When you come to critically assess the "Ethics', adopt a principle of interpretive generosity. Do not assume that Spinoza must be wrong because his ideas are old, unfamiilar or do not seem to meet with your experience. Try to understand the text on its own terms and evaluate it according to its philosophical merits."
Although the book includes a wonderfully challenging bibliography, Lord does not presuppose a great deal of prior knowledge of Spinoza. She works, and encourages the reader to pay attention to, the text of the "Ethics" itself. She refers frequently to Descartes to bring out the features of Spinoza's thinking, and she makes some perceptive comparisons of Spinoza and Nietzsche. Lord also uses Spinoza's correspondence in an attempt to clarify some of the difficulties of the "Ethics".
The heart of the book is called simply "A Guide to the Text" and includes five parts, corresponding to each of the major divisions of the "Ethics". The longest sections are those which deal with the first two parts of the book, which Lord calls, "Being, Substance, God, Nature", and "Minds, Bodies, Experience, Knowledge." These are the sections of the "Ethics" which remain most often emphasized in philosophy courses. Lord also offers a careful, insightful treatment of Spinoza's treatment of the passions and of ethics itself in the next two and one-half parts of the "Ethics". As does every reader, Lord struggles with the second half of Part V. Her expositions are clear and tied carefully to what Spinoza says. Each section is broken into shorter sections with good topic headings. Lord cross-references frequently among various sections of the "Ethics" to help the student understand the relationship among the parts. Several good diagrams help the reader approach the dizzying abstractions of Spinoza's thinking.
Every philosophical commentary is itself a philosophical work in its own right. Lord proves herself highly sympathetic to Spinoza's thought and approach. She mentions many of the difficulties that students have found in all parts of the "Ethics" and offers arguments to resolve these difficulties in a way that saves Spinoza's insights. In this, she adopts the principles of "interpretive generosity" that she recommends to her readers. Many readers over the years have been more critical of Spinoza and have found large amounts of inconsistency or obscurity in his writing. Lord wants to expound the philosophy while encouraging the reader to engage with it and perhaps reserve criticism until the book is broadly understood. Following her exposition of the first four and one-half sections of the "Ethics", Lord offers her own summation, which states in part:
"If we align our finite existence as far as we can with the true order and connection of ideas and activities that is our essence, we will be more rational, more active, and more free. We will be less affected by our passions, will maximize our physical and thinking capacities and act with greater virtue, and our love for all being and knowledge will increase. Our lives are best directed at 'unconfusing' our minds and bodies from the mess of passions and external things, so that we clearly, distinctly, truly, adequately actualize our essence."
Lord's book reminded me about why I have remained fascinated with Spinoza over the years. Her book admirably serves its purpose of offering a philosophical guide to new readers wanting to engage seriously with the "Ethics" of Spinoza.
Robin Friedman
January 16, 2022
A very good companion for Spinoza's Ethik. Very good structured and very clearly explained.
June 10, 2019
A Good Companion
I have read another two books from this series, and as said before, this book does what it says on the tin. Lord is an excellent philosopher who is impartial, yet an understanding and generous interpreter. The book is meant to be read alongside the Ethics, but how I did it was to first of all read Lord, and then switch to Spinoza, something which is helpful, as you instantly understand what he is on about. What I liked about this book was that Lord included a lot of illustrations of Spinoza’s ideas, something that aided in bringing home the point. Overall, a recommended and non-intrusive companion.
I have read another two books from this series, and as said before, this book does what it says on the tin. Lord is an excellent philosopher who is impartial, yet an understanding and generous interpreter. The book is meant to be read alongside the Ethics, but how I did it was to first of all read Lord, and then switch to Spinoza, something which is helpful, as you instantly understand what he is on about. What I liked about this book was that Lord included a lot of illustrations of Spinoza’s ideas, something that aided in bringing home the point. Overall, a recommended and non-intrusive companion.
October 8, 2019
This was very helpful in preparing a reading group on Spinozas Ethics. The Guide does what it promises and strikes a good balance between accessibility and complexity.
September 9, 2024
A very clear and accessible guide to the Ethics. I especially appreciate that Lord demurs when Spinoza gets a little weird, admitting that in some places (like the second half of Book V) she cannot be so much a guide as a fellow reader. The first book of the Ethics can be very thorny and requires a lot of patience and re-reading, and this guide is no substitute for that hard work, but I found it to be helpful for correcting my mistaken impressions or corroborating my hesitant conclusions about Spinoza's ontology. This is very much a guide and not a critique, and it doesn't pretend to criticize. It's quite enough that it helps the new reader to distinguish between a substance and a mode and a singular thing.
Read
January 20, 2025Fantastic book. Essential for anyone wanting to read Spinoza.
March 7, 2016
This was an invaluable aid to understanding Spinoza. Extremely accessible without being grossly elementary. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2018
도서관에서 빌려온 책인데 스피노자의 텍스트를 이해하는데 엄청나게 도움 됨. 특히 Part 1의 진입 장벽이 높았는데 이 책 덕분에 그나마 이해하게 됐다. 책을 구매할 의향도 있음. 강추!
February 16, 2019
I couldn't have gotten through Spinoza's "The Ethics" without having this guide to read in parallel. Essential. Clear, succinct, well-written.
It is designed to be read side-by-side with "The Ethics" and that is how I used it. Spinoza's language is dated and maybe wasn't all that clear even back in 1640.
It is designed to be read side-by-side with "The Ethics" and that is how I used it. Spinoza's language is dated and maybe wasn't all that clear even back in 1640.
December 19, 2013
A great help. I highly recommend it.
July 22, 2025
i love the edinburgh philosophical guide series! it’s extremely accessible, digestible and concise, but not super dumbed down like popular philosophy. especially useful for something like the ethics where you really have to read from the beginning to the end. also enjoyed the little bits of depth/insight to the scholarship particularly in the debates of the illusive “third kind of knowledge”. it also gives you pretty good recommended readings, a glossary and even possible questions you might encounter in an exam and how to go about answering them (thank you beth lord for the first i received in my spinoza module 🙏).
October 30, 2021
This is a companion to Spinoza’s “Ethics”. It proved to be really helpful for me, especially in helping me wrap my mind around the first two parts of the book which were extremely challenging for me to plow through.
It doesn’t presuppose any prior knowledge, uses fairly simple language (considering the material at hand), and offers some commentary and examples that will feel familiar to the modern reader.
If you need help understanding the “Ethics” (which, if you are anything like you, you certainly will), this book may be very valuable. Would definitely recommend.
It doesn’t presuppose any prior knowledge, uses fairly simple language (considering the material at hand), and offers some commentary and examples that will feel familiar to the modern reader.
If you need help understanding the “Ethics” (which, if you are anything like you, you certainly will), this book may be very valuable. Would definitely recommend.
June 7, 2024
Essential read for embarking upon reading Spinoza's Ethics on your own. Although Lord's Deleuzian reading of Spinoza creeps in here and there, which you have to watch out for. However, in general she takes her time to explain different interpretations of the text.
May 23, 2020
A very lucid explanation of Spinoza's difficult concepts. Helped a lot at various intervals!
May 19, 2022
It is both concise and deep.
December 3, 2023
Excellent guide, highly readable yet still thorough enough to be sufficient.
January 28, 2024
Was very good to help me grasp the firsth three chapters of Spinoza's.. It was near impossible to comprehend him without this
April 3, 2024
The best introduction and guide to the Ethics!
I've read other introductory works, but this one REALLY stands out.
In its simplicity, comprehensiveness, clarity, ...
I've read other introductory works, but this one REALLY stands out.
In its simplicity, comprehensiveness, clarity, ...
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews