Spinoza and the Case for Philosophy

This book analyzes three often-debated questions of Spinoza''s legacy: was Spinoza a religious thinker? How should we understand Spinoza''s mind-body doctrine? What meaning can be given to Spinoza''s notions - such as salvation, beatitude, and freedom - which are seemingly incompatible with his determinism, his secularism, and his critique of religion. Through a close reading of often-overlooked s...