The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza

This is one of the best ordained books on Spinoza ever written. It has texts on the most important topics of Spinoza's philosophy, on the correct order, and with important commentaries concerning the entire spinozistic community. There are however disadvantages in this books. One of them is Michael della Rocca's text on Spinoza's metaphysical psychology. It is a very bold article, with several bold statements; however, the order of della Rocca's philosophising is completely upside down, and some of his premisses prove that he did not understand the scope of Spinoza's metaphysics at all. Besides, it is too long and not very explanatory for people entering Spinoza's philosophy. The same cannot be said on the brilliant texts by Don Garrett, by Edwin Curley (with the most famous title in the history of Spinoza's political studies), and of the always brilliant Wim Klever (who should be more translated in the english language). Bottom line: I believe this is probably the most important book concerning the whole of Spinoza's philosophy in the english language. However, the manner how certain problems are introduced and resolved are far from being consensuous and some of them seem highly questionable. From this, one must conclude that this book is not adequate for people just entering Spinoza's philosophy: better to start with Spinoza himself, with some introductory guides, and with the old, but still excellent book by Stuart Hampshire.

This fine volume in the Cambridge "Companions" series is an essential aid to readers of Baruch Spinoza. Edited by Don Garrett, it includes ten essays on Spinoza's life and thought by ten world-class Spinoza scholars (including the late Alan Donagan, to whom the book is dedicated).Topics covered are various and pretty much exhaustive. W.N.A. Klever opens the volume with a summary of Spinoza's life and works; the closing piece by Pierre-Francois Moreau traces the influence of "Spinozism" from Spinoza's death through the twentieth century. The eight essays in between discuss, in turn, Spinoza's metaphysics (Jonathan Bennett), his theory of knowledge (Margaret D. Wilson), his natural science and methodology (Alan Gabbey), his metaphysical psychology (Michael Della Rocca), his ethical theory (Don Garrett), his political theory (Edwin Curley, in a piece strikingly entitled "Kissinger, Spinoza, and Genghis Khan," in which he argues that Spinoza was essentially Machiavellian), his theology (Alan Donagan), and his influence on Biblical scholarship (Richard H. Popkin).The resulting collection is a clear and thorough examination of every essential aspect of Spinoza's thought. My recommendation to new readers of Spinoza: begin with Roger Scruton's fine little book in the "Past Masters" series, and then go on to this one.