Spinoza's Modernity: Mendelssohn, Lessing, and HeineSpinoza’s Modernity is a major, original work of intellectual history that reassesses the philosophical project of Baruch Spinoza, uncovers his influence on later thinkers, and demonstrates how that crucial influence on Moses Mendelssohn, G. E. Lessing, and Heinrich Heine shaped the development of modern critical thought. Excommunicated by his Jewish community, Spinoza was a controversial figure in his lifetime and for centuries afterward. Willi Goetschel shows how Spinoza’s philosophy was a direct challenge to the theological and metaphysical assumptions of modern European thought. He locates the driving force of this challenge in Spinoza’s Jewishness, which is deeply inscribed in his philosophy and defines the radical nature of his modernity. |
Contents
The Scandal of Spinozas Jewishness | 3 |
Part 1 Spinozas Modernity | 21 |
Part 2 Spinoza through Mendelssohn | 83 |
Part 3 Spinoza through Lessing | 181 |
Part 4 Spinozas New Place | 251 |
Notes | 279 |
| 325 | |
| 345 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aesthetic argues argument aspect Aufklärung autonomy challenge chapter Christian claims cognition conceived concept consequence constitutive context critical critique crucial culture debate defined Descartes dialogue discussion distinction dramatic dynamic emerges Enlightenment epistemological Ernst Ethics Falk formulates framework Freemasonry Freemasons function German grounds Hegel Heine's Heinrich Heine Hermann Cohen hermeneutic Hobbes human nature ical idea implications interpretation introduces Jacobi Jerusalem Jewish Jewish emancipation Jews Jub A 11 Judaism Juden Kant knowledge Leibniz Lessing Lessing's Märchen meaning Mendels metaphysics mind miracles Mitleid modern moral Moses Mendelssohn Nathan der Weise Nathan the Wise natural rights notion noza ontological pantheism pantheism dispute particular philosophy play political theory Political Treatise potential pragmatic question radical reason religion religious represents revelation role Scripture self-determination social sphere Spinoza Spinozist stage theological Theological-Political Treatise theoretical theory of affects thought tion tradition tragedy trans truth understanding Wahrheit Werke