Grotius, Spinoza, and "proto-capitalism"

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

re Ian's recollection:

> didn't Grotius hail from the same parts as Spinoza a generation or two b4 ?

I see that the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Faculty of Philosophy
offers a course on both of them in the context of "Protestant
proto-capitalism."


> Political Theory in the Dutch Golden Age: Hugo Grotius to Spinoza and
> Mandeville (VW2X27)
>
> Interest in early-modern Dutch political thought is growing rapidly among
> political philosophers and historians of ideas, both within the
> Netherlands and abroad. Study of Spinoza, Grotius and the Dutch natural
> jurists has led to a growing awareness of the fact that their specifically
> Dutch background merits the interest of scholars looking for significant
> patterns in the international development and spread of political ideas.
> Dutch international circles lived by their international contacts -
> absorbing, re-invigorating and disseminating important concepts and
> theories during the turbulent 200 years preceding the final collapse of
> the `ancient régime' in 1795. The course will focus on three themes
> running through the writings of the political thinkers: human nature in
> politics, and the relationship between morality and politics; religion,
> economics and tolerance in Protestant proto-capitalism; the popular
> element in political rule and the origins of people's sovereignty.


Chris Burford