Hackett Publishing

The only complete edition in English of Baruch Spinoza’s works, this volume features Samuel Shirley’s preeminent translations, distinguished at once by the lucidity and fluency with which they convey the flavor and meaning of Spinoza’s original texts.

Michael L. Morgan provides a general introduction that places Spinoza in Western philosophy and culture and sketches the philosophical, scientific, religious, moral and political dimensions of Spinoza’s thought. Morgan’s brief introductions to each work give a succinct historical, biographical, and philosophical overview. A chronology and index are included.

“This elegant volume has been produced to a very high standard, is easy to handle, affordably priced, and, most importantly, renders Spinoza accurately into clear and graceful English. It will undoubtedly become an indispensable tool for all serious readers of Spinoza. . . . The supporting editorial material of this volume—the work of Michael L. Morgan—is. . . judicious and reliable. His eight-page Introduction offers a succinct interpretive overview of Spinoza’s system that will be thought-provoking for specialists, while also basic enough to be accessible to novice Spinozists. Morgan also provides a very useful chronology of Spinoza’s life, a brief introduction to each work, and a light apparatus of footnotes.”
      —Adam Sutcliffe, The Jewish Quarterly Review

“Samuel Shirley’s translations are fluent, eminently readable, and responsive to current research. Where a particular passage is difficult or obscure, Shirley never attempts to interpose himself between the reader and Spinoza, nor to side with one or another competing school of thought or interpretation. That makes his translations not just an ideal introduction for the reader new to Spinoza, but also a trustworthy source of insight for the more advanced reader.”
      —Lee Rice, Marquette University

“A truly marvelous accomplishment. . . . Shirley is undoubtedly the most significant translator of Spinoza’s writings into English. His translations have the unique ability to integrate accuracy, lucidity, and facility of expression that is unparalleled by other translators of Spinoza.”
      —Douglas Den Uyl, Bellarmine College

“This complete set of Spinoza’s writings—translated in lucid, readable English—is an invaluable tool for those new to Spinoza studies as well as the professional scholar.”
      —Steven Barbone, San Diego State University

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Translator’s Preface. Introduction. Chronology. Editorial Notes.

Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect

Short Treatise on Man, God, and His Well-Being

Principles of Cartesian Philosophy and Metaphysical Thoughts

Ethics

Theological-Political Treatise

Hebrew Grammar

Political Treatise

The Letters

Index.

Michael L. Morgan is Professor of Philosophy, Indiana University.

Samuel Shirley, (1912-2006), was Classics Exhibitioner of Balliol College, Oxford, and Latin Lecturer at Cardiff University.