Spinoza: A Life
by Steven Nadler
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Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was one of the most important philosophers of all time; he was also one of the most radical and controversial. The story of Spinoza's life takes the reader into the heart of Jewish Amsterdam in the seventeenth century and, with Spinoza's exile from Judaism, into the midst of the tumultuous political, social, intellectual, and religious world of the young Dutch Republic. This new edition of Steven Nadler's biography, winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award for show more biography and translated into a dozen languages, is enhanced by exciting new archival discoveries about his family background, his youth, and the various philosophical, political, and religious contexts of his life and works. There is more detail about his family's business and communal activities, about his relationships with friends and correspondents, and about the development of his writings, which were so scandalous to his contemporaries. show lessTags
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semplice e chiaro ma non approssimativo. Buona descrizione del contesto con approfondimenti sulla storia della Repubblica delle province unite e profili di personaggi minori (ma non minori nella vita e nella cultura del seicento). C'è anche un po' di filosofia esposta in modo semplice e discorsivo.
Su tutto si erge la figura umana del filosofo liberata da molti stereotipi e resa con asciutta grazia(quasi un miracolo data la modestia delle fonti superstiti).
Ottima divulgazione. Uno Spinoza davvero alla portata ddi tutti.
Su tutto si erge la figura umana del filosofo liberata da molti stereotipi e resa con asciutta grazia(quasi un miracolo data la modestia delle fonti superstiti).
Ottima divulgazione. Uno Spinoza davvero alla portata ddi tutti.
While the author, Steven Nadler, is unable to explain the threshhold mystery of Baruch de Spinoza's life -- what led to the harshest Cherem, or excommunication, ever proclaimed by the leaders of the Sephardim community in Amsterdam when he was only 25 years old -- the author brings light to many other things that made life interesting for this man living in and contributing so mightily to the Golden Age of the independent Dutch Republic in the middle of the 17th century.
With Spinoza, the history of philosophy begins anew. Nadler illuminates this history with a two-hundred year run-up starting with the Spinoza family in Portugal. With Index, Bibliography, and intelligent commentary in Notes on sources.
The quote from the book which show more captured me was the first sentence: "On March 30, 1492, Spain committed one of those acts of great self-destructive folly to which superpowers are prone: it expelled its Jews." The lessons of the Dutch Republic, the Jewish diaspora, and the rebirth of philosophy surrounding Spinoza, remain relevant today, where so much is explained by ignorance. show less
With Spinoza, the history of philosophy begins anew. Nadler illuminates this history with a two-hundred year run-up starting with the Spinoza family in Portugal. With Index, Bibliography, and intelligent commentary in Notes on sources.
The quote from the book which show more captured me was the first sentence: "On March 30, 1492, Spain committed one of those acts of great self-destructive folly to which superpowers are prone: it expelled its Jews." The lessons of the Dutch Republic, the Jewish diaspora, and the rebirth of philosophy surrounding Spinoza, remain relevant today, where so much is explained by ignorance. show less
Muy buena biografía de Spinoza. Me enseñó mucho acerca de su formación judía, y también acerca de personajes que lo influyeron, casi todos con ideas heterodoxas: Uriel da Costa, Franciscus van den Enden, Adriaan Koerbagh, etc. Me gustaría investigar más acerca de la influencia de estos personajes en las ideas de Spinoza...
Reviewed by Anthony Gottlieb for the NYT here:
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/18/reviews/990718.18gottlit.html
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/18/reviews/990718.18gottlit.html
Zeer uitvoerig, vooral in schets tijdskader en evoluties in Amsterdam. Er is eigenlijk zeer weinig geweten over Spinoza zelf. Duidelijke lacune: nawerking (biografie houdt heel abrupt op).
Sep 24, 2010Dutch
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37+ Works 1,904 Members
Steven Nadler is Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His many books include Rembrandt's Jews, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Spinoza: A Life, and (with Lawrence Shapiro) When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People: How Philosophy Can Save Us from Ourselves show more (Princeton). show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Baruch Spinoza e l'Olanda del Seicento
- Original title
- Spinoza: A Life
- Original publication date
- 1999, Cambridge University Press
- People/Characters
- Baruch Spinoza
- Dedication
- for my family
- First words
- On March 30, 1492, Spain committed one of those acts of great self-destructive folly to which superpowers are prone: it expelled its Jews.
- Original language
- Inglese
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Philosophy, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History, General Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality
- DDC/MDS
- 199.492 — Philosophy and Psychology Modern western philosophy Philosophy in other geographic areas Europe Other European Countries Netherlands
- LCC
- B3997 .N33 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Philosophy (General) By period Modern By region or country
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 364
- Popularity
- 86,075
- Reviews
- 6
- Rating
- (3.80)
- Languages
- 8 — Dutch, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 22
- ASINs
- 2
