Spinoza's Critique of Hobbes - (Spinoza Studies) by Christian Lazzeri (Hardcover)

About the Book

Studies how Spinoza's critical reading of Hobbes allowed him to develop a new kind of political theory.

Book Synopsis

Christian Lazzeri examines the relationship between the political theory of Hobbes and that of Spinoza. Arguing against longstanding one-sided interpretations, he shows how Spinoza both took up and modified, accepted and distanced himself from Hobbes's ideas. This also brings out problematic aspects of Hobbes's thinking from Spinoza's perspective.

Most importantly, Lazzeri traces how Spinoza constructed a political philosophy, not on the narrow basis of an autonomous political sphere constituted by the relationships between rational legal subjects to produce indivisible sovereignty, but rather on the broad basis of the complex web of social relations and a purely institutionalist framework.

Review Quotes

Thanks to Schott's meticulous and highly readable translation into English, more readers will benefit from Lazzeri's illuminating, erudite, and subtle analysis of the Spinoza-Hobbes relationship. The English edition includes additional material, providing further insight into precisely how Spinoza incorporates, transforms, and departs from Hobbes's political theory.--Hasana Sharp, McGill University

Christian Lazzeri's 1998 master work offers a penetrating study of Hobbes' political theory and how Spinoza both adopted and adapted it. This first English version, fluently translated by Nils F. Scott, adds invaluable insights concerning Spinoza's supposed shift vis-à-vis the social contract between the TTP and TP.--Steven Barbone, San Diego State University

This newly translated work of Christian Lazzeri's is a masterpiece of both interpretation and political philosophical reasoning. The depth, thoroughness, and fairness of the analysis of both Hobbes and Spinoza is such that the result is more a comparison than a critique. From now on, anyone working seriously on the political philosophy of Hobbes or Spinoza, and the era in which they wrote, will need to consult Lazzeri's work.--Douglas Den Uyl, Resident Scholar - Liberty Fund