Representation And The Mind-body Problem In Spinoza

This first extensive study of Spinoza's philosophy of mind concentrates on two problems crucial to the philosopher's thoughts on the matter: the requirements for having a thought about a particular object, and the problem of the mind's relation to the body. Della Rocca contends that Spinoza's positions are systematically connected with each other and with a principle at the heart of his metaphysical system: his denial of causal or explanatory relations between the mental and the physical.

In this way, Della Rocca's exploration of these two problems provides a new and illuminating perspective on Spinoza's philosophy as a system. Review: exhibits ... analytic rigour and clarity of expression ... offers some original and compelling interpretations of important elements of Spinoza's theory of mind.

Tad M. Schmaltz,Mind, Vol. 109, No.435, July 2000. The considerable strengths of his discussion in this book provide reason for those interested in this area of Spinoza's thought to track this further development. Tad M. Schmaltz,Mind, Vol. 109, No.435, July 2000. A very rigorous, sophisticated and subtle treatment of central issues in Spinoza's philosophy of mind and knowledge...Della Rocca puts forward interpretations which are likely to be the subject of discussion among Spinoza for some years to come.

In general, Della Rocca shows himself to be an original, subtle, and often brilliant expositor of Spinoza. -Nicholas Jolley, University of California, San Diego It will be a classic-'must' reading for Spinoza scholars, historians of philosophy in general, advanced students of the history of philosophy, and anyone interested in early modern cognitive psychology.

It is one of the most exciting works in the history of philosophy that I have read in a long time...It deserves the widest possible readership. -Don Garrett, University of Utah