Ordinary language and scientific discourse are filled with linguistic expressions for dispositional properties such as a oesoluble, a a oeelastic, a a oereliable, a and a oehumorous.a We characterize objects in all domains a " physical objects as well as human persons a " with the help of dispositional expressions. Hence, the concept of a disposition has historically and systematically played a central role in different areas of philosophy ranging from metaphysics to ethics. The contributions of this volume analyze the ancient foundations of the discussion about disposition, examine the problem of disposition within the context of the foundation of modern science, and analyze this dispute up to the 20th century. Furthermore, articles explore the contemporary theories of dispositions.

vor dem Hintergrund fanatischer religioser Konflikte und in Kenntnis der im 17. Jahrhundert aufbluhenden exakten Wissenschaften entwickelte Spinoza einen der anspruchsvollsten Entwurfe der Philosophiegeschichte: seine in geometrischer Ordnung dargestellte "Ethik." Seine funf Teile werden in diesem kollektiven Kommentar durch jeweils drei Aufsatze erlautert. Eine Einleitung schildert die Ambitionen und historischen Folgen der "Ethik.""