The Immanence of Power

Every age discovers and interprets its classics of philosophy anew; therefore, the current acute interest in the work of the Dutch reationalist Baruch de Spinoza says at least as much about the present as it does about the early modern period. For an important alternative, one that has not yet been exhausted, to the better known paths into modernity in terms of the history of ideas becomes apparent in his writings. Martin Saar traces Spinoza's fascinating political thought, provides insights into its shifting history of reception and promotes the systematic productivity of Spinoza's radical ontological theory of politics that centres around the terms power, imagination and affectivity. With their help, modern lifestyles and forms of government can be understood better.

»An excellent […] account of the possibilities of Spinoza’s conception of power.« Thomas Meyer, Süddeutsche Zeitung

»Martin Saar makes Spinoza’s philosophy accessible to a political theory of the present« Michael Schefczyk, Neue Zürcher Zeitung

»In his book, Saar not only manages to point out the principles of Spinoza’s political thought, he also shows the links to poststructuralist, left-liberal, Marxist and feminist debates.« Paul Zelik, taz. die tageszeitung