Single Idea 19917

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason]

Full Idea

Without mutual help and the cultivation of reason, human beings necessarily live in great misery.

Gist of Idea

Without reason and human help, human life is misery

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 16.05)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.197


A Reaction

A clarion call from a great voice of the Enlightenment. I agree, but in 2017 the rest of western civilization seems to have given up on this ideal. I blame Adorno and Horkheimer.