Spinoza and Art: Literature and the Art of Living

Against the mainstream view, Gatens and Uhlmann argue that Spinoza's philosophy can significantly contribute to understandings of art, creativity and the central place of the imagination in human wellbeing. This perspective shows how concepts essential to Spinoza's philosophy, such as ingenium, the exemplar and the theory of the affects illuminate how works of art and literature make essential contributions to human thriving. They consider case studies of major English authors who were negatively or positively influenced by Spinoza, including Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Percy and Mary Shelley, George Eliot and Virginia Woolf.

Author: Moira Gatens,Anthony Uhlmann
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Published: 10/31/2026
Pages: 320
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.75d
ISBN: 9781399570213