Ethics

"Arnold Geulincx (1624-1669) is an original figure in the history of ideas, whose concepts have been seen as precursors of those developed by Spinoza, Malebranche, Leibniz and Kant. His Ethics presents a treatment of virtue from the standpoint of occasionalist metaphysics. The great Irish writer Samuel Beckett stated that Geulincx, with his emphasis on the powerlessness and ignorance of the human condition, was a key influence on his works." "This volume contains the first complete version of the text of the Ethics to appear in a modern language and includes Beckett's notes to his reading of Geulincx. Shedding new light on an important moment in intellectual history, its publication is a major event for students of philosophy and literature."--Jacket.