Spinoza: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed)
"Jarrett'sSpinoza: A Guide for the Perplexed(itself part of a relatively new series from Continuum that aids readers equally perplexed by authors as varied as Theodor Adorno, Gilles Deleuze, Thomas Hobbes, and Ludwig Wittgenstein) introduces the reader briefly to Spinoza's historical background and overall place in modern western philosophy...its main task is to present the reader with a detailed account of Spinoza's major works, including theTreatise on the Emendation of the Intellect(1662), theTractatus Theologico-Politicus(1670) and theTractatus Politicus(1675-76), and, of course, his magnum opus, theEthics(1677)... The perplexed reader who does not even know where to start—or how to recognize important shifts in Spinoza's arguments—will find these detailed treatments particularly illuminating. Even more useful are the sections at the end of each chapter, entitled "Comparison of Spinoza with Others," and "Problems and Disputed Issues of Interpretation."... For the reader set to wade through theEthicsin particular—be that scholar in history, philosophy, literature, or any neighboring field—Jarrett's guide could prove an invaluable tool. In this regard, it assumes that the "perplexed" reader of Spinoza is not the uninitiated, but rather the reader who knows just enough about Spinoza's thought to realize the challenge he/she faces. And for that "perplexed" reader, Jarrett's book will indeed be the welcome guide its title promises." —Tracie Matysik,H-Net Reviews, November 2008"Jarrett'sSpinoza: A Guide for the Perplexed(itself part of a relatively new series from Continuum that aids readers equally perplexed by authors as varied as Theodor Adorno, Gilles Deleuze, Thomas Hobbes, and Ludwig Wittgenstein) introduces the reader briefly to Spinoza's historical background and overall place in modern western philosophy…its main task is to present the reader with a detailed account of Spinoza's major works, including theTreatise on the Emendation of the Intellect(1662), theTractatus Theologico-Politicus(1670) and theTractatus Politicus(1675-76), and, of course, his magnum opus, theEthics(1677)… The perplexed reader who does not even know where to start—or how to recognize important shifts in Spinoza's arguments—will find these detailed treatments particularly illuminating. Even more useful are the sections at the end of each chapter, entitled "Comparison of Spinoza with Others," and "Problems and Disputed Issues of Interpretation."… For the reader set to wade through theEthicsin particular—be that scholar in history, philosophy, literature, or any neighboring field—Jarrett's guide could prove an invaluable tool. In this regard, it assumes that the "perplexed" reader of Spinoza is not the uninitiated, but rather the reader who knows just enough about Spinoza's thought to realize the challenge he/she faces. And for that "perplexed" reader, Jarrett's book will indeed be the welcome guide its title promises.” –Tracie Matysik,H-Net Reviews, November 2008