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Single Idea 19922

[filed under theme 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 2. Sources of Free Will ]

Full Idea

The only genuinely free person is one who lives with his entire mind guided solely by reason.

Gist of Idea

People are only free if they are guided entirely by reason

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 16.10)

Book Ref

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.201

A Reaction

It strikes me as blatantly impossible to be entirely guided by reason. His point is that it is a subservience to reason which is entirely chosen. Why is that different from choosing to be entirely subservient to another person?

Related Idea

Idea 19924 The freest state is a rational one, where people can submit themselves to reason [Spinoza]

The 33 ideas from 'Tractatus Theologico-Politicus'

7487 Society exists to extend human awareness [Spinoza, by Watson]
7827 Spinoza wanted democracy based on individual rights, and is thus the first modern political philosopher [Stewart,M on Spinoza]
4300 The Bible has nothing in common with reasoning and philosophy [Spinoza]
19914 In nature everything has an absolute right to do anything it is capable of doing [Spinoza]
19915 Natural rights are determined by desire and power, not by reason [Spinoza]
19916 The order of nature does not prohibit anything, and allows whatever appetite produces [Spinoza]
19918 Forming a society meant following reason, and giving up dangerous appetites and mutual harm [Spinoza]
19917 Without reason and human help, human life is misery [Spinoza]
19919 People only give up their rights, and keep promises, if they hope for some greater good [Spinoza]
19921 Once you have given up your rights, there is no going back [Spinoza]
19920 Democracy is a legitimate gathering of people who do whatever they can do [Spinoza]
19922 People are only free if they are guided entirely by reason [Spinoza]
19923 Slavery is not just obedience, but acting only in the interests of the master [Spinoza]
19924 The freest state is a rational one, where people can submit themselves to reason [Spinoza]
19925 In democracy we don't abandon our rights, but transfer them to the majority of us [Spinoza]
19926 The sovereignty has absolute power over citizens [Spinoza]
19927 State and religious law can clash, so the state must make decisions about religion [Spinoza]
19928 No one, in giving up their power and right, ceases to be a human being [Spinoza]
19929 Everyone who gives up their rights must fear the recipients of them [Spinoza]
19930 Sovereignty must include the power to make people submit to it [Spinoza]
19931 Every state is more frightened of its own citizens than of external enemies [Spinoza]
19932 The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone [Spinoza]
19933 If religion is law, then piety is justice, impiety is crime, and non-believers must leave [Spinoza]
19934 Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God [Spinoza]
19935 Peoples are created by individuals, not by nature, and only distinguished by language and law [Spinoza]
19936 Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty [Spinoza]
19937 Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down [Spinoza]
19938 Allowing religious ministers any control of the state is bad for both parties [Spinoza]
19939 Government is oppressive if opinions can be crimes, because people can't give them up [Spinoza]
19940 Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority [Spinoza]
19942 Treason may be committed as much by words as by deeds [Spinoza]
19943 The state aims to allow personal development, so its main purpose is freedom [Spinoza]
19944 Without liberty of thought there is no trust in the state, and corruption follows [Spinoza]