'Through an accurate analysis of Spinoza's work, from Part I of Ethics to the last line of the Political Treatise, Caporali displays the political thought of the author in all its depth and novelty. Rarely, if ever, has such a controversial topic been presented with this much clarity and coherence.' Diogo Pires Aurélio, New University of Lisbon A reconstruction of Spinoza's political philosophy Riccardo Caporali makes a close and circular connection between metaphysics, ethics and politics in Spinoza's thought. He offers an examination of all of Spinoza's works while addressing the challenges imposed by the historical circumstances at the time. As a result, Spinoza's work and its author, the philosopher and the man, go hand in hand. Focusing on Spinoza's constant preoccupation with the relationship between metaphysics and politics, Caporali shows that it takes different forms in his various major works. He highlights specific moments of this discontinuity, particularly in the transition between the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus and the Tractatus Politicus. Caporali's reconstruction of Spinoza's political philosophy, alongside the historical context and events, is interwoven with comparisons and references to Machiavelli, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Vico and Hegel, as well as to many contemporary interpretations of Spinoza's thought. Riccardo Caporali is Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Bologna, Italy. Fabio Gironi is an independent researcher and translator. Cover design: www.richardbudddesign.co.uk [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-6759-9 Barcode