Hobbes and Spinoza in the 21st Century

Recent interest in Hobbes and Spinoza has tended to focus on their ideas in historical context. From this perspective, Hobbes is acknowledged to be an important influence on Spinoza, and both are key figures in the development of modern political philosophy and science. Yet many current moral and political thinkers overlook Hobbes and Spinoza, and the connection between them, thus losing out on a major source of insight for current moral and political issues. While some recent notable discussions of Hobbes and Spinoza have applied their methods and ideas to contemporary problems, we think that these discussions are deserving of both greater attention and continued development.