Naslov
Spinoza as a Platonist Philosopher

Autori
Zovko, Marie-Elise

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
1st Dubrovnik Interfaith Encounter on Renaissance Philosophy: Honoring Abraham Kohen Herrera 1570-1635

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 27.09.2007. - 30.09.2007

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
Spinoza; Platonism; Plotinus; Herrera; negative theology; God; nature; freedom; pantheism; determinism; fatalism

Sažetak
The lecture presents a new approach to reading and understanding Spinoza, one which takes as its interpretative axis the deep affinity to and historical legacy of Platonic thought at the root of Spinoza's philosophy of love, life and reason. The reason for taking this approach is that many of the difficulties associated with the philosophy of Spinoza can be resolved by recognizing its original affinity to and rootedness in the central ideas and concepts of the philosophy of Platonism, whereas emphasis on Spinoza's relationship to Descartes, Hobbes, Leibniz, has tended to distort its true intention and character. The influence of Platonist thought and of sources steeped in Platonic tradition is ubiquitous in Spinoza's philosophy. Insight into the shared characteristics of the philosophy of Platonism, reappearing in productive variations in all of its major representatives throughout Greek and Roman antiquity, in Hebrew, Patristic, and Islamic sources, in Medieval and Renaissance philosophy, as well as in the philosophy of Spinoza's immediate predecessors and sources is thus a natural prerequisite of this interpretative approach. Treatment of some central concepts and arguments of the Ethics suffices, however, to demonstrate that many aspects of the philosophy of Spinoza can only be clearly understood in the light of Platonist antecedents in the history of philosophy. In comparison with classic works from the history of Platonism controversy regarding the interpretation of Spinoza's metaphysics can be resolved. This is accomplished by attempting an answer to three questions: Why Spinoza is not a pantheist? Why Spinoza is not a determinist? Why Spinoza is not a fatalist?

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filozofija

POVEZANOST RADA