Spinoza and the Philosophy of Love

In Spinoza and the Philosophy of Love, Michael Strawser provides a new reading of Spinoza as a philosopher of love, and one who centered in his thought an ethically qualified conception of noble love. Strawser examines the threefold conception of love found in Spinozas Ethics and argues that what is most important for Spinozas philosophy is a unified conception of love centered on nobility (amor sive generositas). This active conception of love can conquer hatred and bring people together. Situating Spinozas philosophy of love within both Jewish and Western philosophical traditions, Strawser investigates questions in the philosophy of love together with Spinoza and thinkers such as Saadia Gaon, Maimonides, Leono Ebreo, Tullia dAragona, and Ren Descartes. He shows how Spinoza deepens our understanding of amorous perfectionism and how this reading of Spinozas philosophy of love serves as both a corrective to problematic readings, such as those found in Isaac Bashevis Singer and Emmanuel Levinas, and a counter to speciesism. With careful examination of Spinozas writings, Strawser demonstrates that the goal of his philosophy is best understood as the love of other people who are to be helped and united with in friendship: Spinozas philosophy of love calls for collective nobility.