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Single Idea 19922

[catalogued under 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)

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?

Book Reference

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

Related Idea

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