Spinoza and the Politics of Renaturalization

Hasana Sharp's book explores Spinoza's philosophy of naturalism, which suggests that humanity is part of nature and that ideas, actions, and institutions are outcomes of complex relationships between natural forces beyond our control. This lack of a metaphysical or moral division between humanity and nature can provide the basis for an ethical and political practice free from the tendency to view ourselves as either gods or beasts. Sharp's argument critically engages with contemporary thinkers and is vital for scholars in a wide range of fields.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 256 pages
\n Publication date: 01 February 2021
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
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Over the centuries, there have been numerous interpretations of Spinoza, encompassing diverse perspectives such as atheism, romantic pantheism, a profound thinker of the multitude, an advocate of the liberated individual, and a rigorous rationalist. Despite these contrasting viewpoints, a unifying thread connects them all: Spinoza's naturalism, which posits that humanity is an integral part of nature, rather than standing above it. In this groundbreaking reinterpretation of Spinoza's iconoclastic philosophy, Hasana Sharp delves into his uncompromising naturalism to reexamine human agency, ethics, and political practices. Through the lens of Spinoza, Sharp offers a practical wisdom of "renaturalization," demonstrating how ideas, actions, and institutions emerge as the result of intricate interconnections among natural forces beyond our control. This holistic perspective challenges the notion of a metaphysical or moral divide between humanity and the rest of nature, paving the way for an ethical and political practice that avoids the inclination to view ourselves as either gods or beasts. Sharp's innovative argument engages critically with a range of contemporary thinkers, including deep ecologists, feminists, and race and critical theorists, making Spinoza and the Politics of Renaturalization an essential resource for scholars across various disciplines.

\n Weight: 396g\n
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226792484\n \n