The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Religious
Cover of the book The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World by Matthew Stewart, W. W. Norton & Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Matthew Stewart ISBN: 9780393071047
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Publication: January 17, 2007
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company Language: English
Author: Matthew Stewart
ISBN: 9780393071047
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publication: January 17, 2007
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English

“A colorful reinterpretation. . . . Stewart’s wit and profluent prose make this book a fascinating read.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Philosophy in the late seventeenth century was a dangerous business. No careerist could afford to know the reclusive, controversial philosopher Baruch de Spinoza. Yet the wildly ambitious genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who denounced Spinoza in public, became privately obsessed with Spinoza's ideas, wrote him clandestine letters, and ultimately met him in secret.

"In refreshingly lucid terms" (Booklist) Matthew Stewart "rescues both men from a dusty academic shelf, bringing them to life as enlightened humans" (Library Journal) central to the religious, political, and personal battles that gave birth to the modern age. Both men put their faith in the guidance of reason, but one spent his life defending a God he may not have believed in, while the other believed in a God who did not need his defense. Ultimately, the two thinkers represent radically different approaches to the challenges of the modern era. They stand for a choice that we all must make.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

“A colorful reinterpretation. . . . Stewart’s wit and profluent prose make this book a fascinating read.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Philosophy in the late seventeenth century was a dangerous business. No careerist could afford to know the reclusive, controversial philosopher Baruch de Spinoza. Yet the wildly ambitious genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who denounced Spinoza in public, became privately obsessed with Spinoza's ideas, wrote him clandestine letters, and ultimately met him in secret.

"In refreshingly lucid terms" (Booklist) Matthew Stewart "rescues both men from a dusty academic shelf, bringing them to life as enlightened humans" (Library Journal) central to the religious, political, and personal battles that gave birth to the modern age. Both men put their faith in the guidance of reason, but one spent his life defending a God he may not have believed in, while the other believed in a God who did not need his defense. Ultimately, the two thinkers represent radically different approaches to the challenges of the modern era. They stand for a choice that we all must make.

More books from W. W. Norton & Company

Cover of the book The Last Love Poem I Will Ever Write: Poems by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book The Dogs of Avalon: The Race to Save Animals in Peril by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Lavoisier in the Year One: The Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution (Great Discoveries) by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book That's Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book The Justice Cascade: How Human Rights Prosecutions Are Changing World Politics (The Norton Series in World Politics) by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book City of Ambition: FDR, LaGuardia, and the Making of Modern New York by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Wild Dogs: A Novel by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Night of Sorrows: A Novel by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Sweet Heaven When I Die: Faith, Faithlessness, and the Country In Between by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book The Kennan Diaries by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Iris and Her Friends: A Memoir of Memory and Desire by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care Reform by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland by Matthew Stewart
Cover of the book The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory by Matthew Stewart
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy