Spinoza for Our Time

October 15, 2013

This short book consists of four lectures given by the Italian political philosopher Negri (Savage Anomaly: The Power of Spinoza's Metaphysics and Politics) between 2005 and 2009. As with his other works on the Jewish-Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-77), Negri's lectures seek to show the relevance that the thinker has to contemporary political philosophy. Why these four lectures only? The author explains that they were selected because they best support his theses on Spinoza, whose book Ethics he references to show how the philosopher's ontological arguments for God or Nature and the two modes of Extension and Thought can be applied to contemporary communist philosophy and social movements. While Negri defends his arguments, his passionate and focused thought comes through in each lecture as the author points out the shortcomings of those who oppose his interpretation and application of Spinoza's philosophy. VERDICT While the topics and terminology used in the lectures will make them less accessible to those without a background in the subject, readers with an interest in contemporary continental philosophy will find this volume appealing.--Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.