Spinoza and the Stoics: Power, Politics and the Passions »

An important and original study of Spinoza's moral and political philosophy and his engagement with Stoicism.

Preface     vii
Abbreviations     ix
Introduction     1
The Foundation of Perfectionism     9
Pantheism and determinism     9
Vital endeavour and the ground of virtue     13
The diagnosis of the passions     17
A this-worldly salvation     22
Psychotherapy and Virtue     25
'What is in my power to do'     25
Agreeing with nature     36
The Sociality of Virtue     47
Spinoza's critique of perfectionism     47
'Nothing is more advantageous to man than man'     56
Sociality and the diffusion of enlightenment     62
Stoic Political Reason     67
Cosmopolis and political duty     67
The predicament of politics     71
The apotheosis of the free man     79
Reason of State     85
State of nature, nature of state     85
Political right and the most natural state     91
The highest form of devotion     95
Spinoza's liberalism     100
The Philosopher in the State     105
Christ, the Apostles and Solomon: models of public philosophers?     105
Philosophical caution, politicalinterest     116
Conclusion     127
Notes     133
Bibliography     143
Index     149