The Spinoza-Machiavelli Encounter

An exhaustive account of the Spinoza–Machiavelli relationship and its relevance for contemporary philosophy

• The first translation into English of this exhaustive account of the Spinoza–Machiavelli relationship and its relevance for contemporary philosophy
• Provides a thorough overview of the Machiavellian texts available to Spinoza in his library, and an analysis of Machiavellian arguments throughout Spinoza’s text
• Develops the complex relationship between ontology and politics, as distinct from political ontology
• Focuses on the concepts of causality, temporality and politics
• Leads to an understanding of history as a complex and plural interweaving of necessarily contingent events

Vittorio Morfino draws out the implications of the dynamic Spinoza–Machiavelli encounter by focusing on the concepts of causality, temporality and politics. This allows him to think through the relationship between ontology and politics, leading to an understanding of history as a complex and plural interweaving of different rhythms.

This extraordinary book opens up new avenues for understanding both Machiavelli and Spinoza as well as early modern political philosophy and materialism.