SPINOZA: POLITICAL THEORIST
Political Theory: Phil 544
Winter 2006 R 11:35 – 1:25
Professor Hasana Sharp
email: hasana.sharp@mcgill.ca
Office phone: 398-3050
Office Hours: 935 Leacock
Wednesdays: 1:00 – 3:00
So you see, most Honorable sir, that my reluctance [to teach] is not due to some hope of better fortune, but
to my love of peace, which I believe I can enjoy in some measure if I refrain from lecturing in public. –
Spinoza to Fabritius, Ep 48
In Anti-Oedipus, Deleuze and Guattari claim that “The fundamental problem of political
philosophy is still precisely the one that Spinoza saw so clearly . . . ‘Why do men fight
for their servitude as stubbornly as though it were their salvation?’” This course will be a
study of Spinoza’s major works as a meditation upon this “fundamental problem of
political philosophy.” We will read the entirety of Spinoza’s Ethics side by side with
most of the Theological-Political Treatise in addition to the entire (albeit unfinished)
Political Treatise. Although the Ethics comprehends what is generally taken to be his
metaphysics and psychology with some reference to his political thought, we will treat
the account of being (substance) and minds as necessary for an understanding of the
human tendency toward servitude. We will likewise endeavor to grasp Spinoza’s
peculiar understanding of democracy, which has recently been rehabilitated by both
Marxist and liberal philosophers.
We will not read contemporary political philosophers’ interpretations collectively, but
students will be asked to read and present on one of the secondary works (book chapters
or articles). I will provide a bibliography with some indications of the orientations of
these works on the first day of class. It will include liberal, Marxist, feminist, and
“postmodern” appropriations as well as analyses of Spinoza’s (political) relationship to
Judaism.
Students should note that Spinoza’s Ethics is very dense and our project for this class is
ambitious. Those without any familiarity with the Ethics are encouraged to read the
exciting short introduction by Deleuze, Spinoza: Practical Philosophy and to begin to
work through the Ethics before winter term.
Texts:
A Spinoza Reader: The Ethics and Other Works. E. Curley, ed. Princeton, 1994.
Political Treatise (TP). S. Shirley, trans. Hackett, 2005.
Theological-Political Treatise (TTP). M. Yaffe, trans. Focus, 2004.
Note: these are the best English translations available, and I encourage you to purchase
them. It is permissible to use translations of other editions by Shirley, but the Elwes texts
are not acceptable.
Available at “The Word” Bookstore at 469 Milton Street
Requirements: One presentation on a secondary work (25%); One brief (5 pp.) exegesis of
a difficult passage from the Ethics (25%); One term paper (15-20 pp.) (50%). Late papers
will be penalized 1/3 grade per day.
Academic Integrity: McGill University values academic integrity. All students must
understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic
offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see
http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).
Schedule:
Date
Assignment Due
5 Jan
Introduction to Course, read from Treatise on the Emendation of
the Intellect
12 Jan
E I, Ep 12, Ep 32 (pages 82-84 in reader), Ep 56
19 Jan
E I, TTP, Preface, Ch. 4
26 Jan
E II, Ep 17
2 Feb
E II, TTP, Chs. 1-3, 6
9 Feb
E III
16 Feb
E IV, Letters on Evil
23 Feb
No Class – Reading Week
3 Mar
E IV, TTP Chs. 16-17
9 Mar
EV
16 Mar TTP, Chs. 18-20
23 Mar TP, Chs. 1-5
30 Mar TP, Chs. 6-7
6 Apr
TP, Chs. 8-11