Die andere Moderne

Since his dissertation in 1968, Manfred Walther has advanced the reception of Spinoza like no other German scholar, as much through his own contributions as through his early attention to international discussions. His collected contributions on Spinoza make up an independent approach, which might best be described as realistic rationalism. Walther manages the feat of presenting an accessible (and still convincing) Spinoza while staying true to the epistemological complexity of the Ethics. One focus of the contributions is on Spinoza's practical philosophy. The widespread tendency to celebrate Spinoza simultaneously as a cool analyst of power and as the best advocate of democracy is also present in Walther's work. However, his contributions open up the possibility of reading Spinoza himself with realistic expectations rather than idealistic exaggeration.
Manfred Walther: Gehorsam oder Erkenntnis. Die Philosophie Spinozas in religionsphilosophischer Perspektive. Spinoza-Studien 1. Heidelberg 2018: Universitätsverlag Winter. 407 S. - Manfred Walther: Natur, Recht und Freiheit. Spinozas Theorie von Recht, Staat und Politik im Kontext der Frühen Neuzeit. Spinoza-Studien 2. Heidelberg 2018: Universitätsverlag Winter. 346 S. - Manfred Walther: Spinoza in Deutschland. Von G. W. Leibniz bis zu Carl Schmitt. Philosophie - Ideologie - Wissenschaft. Spinoza-Studien 3. Heidelberg 2018: Universitätsverlag Winter. 533 S.