Ideas from 'Tractatus Theologico-Politicus' by Baruch de Spinoza [1670], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Theological-Political Treatise' by Spinoza,Benedict de (ed/tr Israel,Jonathan) [CUP 2007,0-521-53097-0]].
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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason
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19917
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Without reason and human help, human life is misery
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16. Persons / F. Free Will / 2. Sources of Free Will
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19922
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People are only free if they are guided entirely by reason
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people
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19935
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Peoples are created by individuals, not by nature, and only distinguished by language and law
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights
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19914
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In nature everything has an absolute right to do anything it is capable of doing
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19915
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Natural rights are determined by desire and power, not by reason
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
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7487
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Society exists to extend human awareness [Watson]
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19943
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The state aims to allow personal development, so its main purpose is freedom
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / a. Sovereignty
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19930
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Sovereignty must include the power to make people submit to it
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
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19937
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Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down
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19936
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Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty
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19940
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Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 4. Changing the State / c. Revolution
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19931
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Every state is more frightened of its own citizens than of external enemies
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / c. Direct democracy
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19920
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Democracy is a legitimate gathering of people who do whatever they can do
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 10. Theocracy
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19938
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Allowing religious ministers any control of the state is bad for both parties
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19933
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If religion is law, then piety is justice, impiety is crime, and non-believers must leave
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery
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19923
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Slavery is not just obedience, but acting only in the interests of the master
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 2. Freedom of belief
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19939
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Government is oppressive if opinions can be crimes, because people can't give them up
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19944
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Without liberty of thought there is no trust in the state, and corruption follows
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 3. Free speech
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19942
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Treason may be committed as much by words as by deeds
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25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 6. Political freedom
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19924
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The freest state is a rational one, where people can submit themselves to reason
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25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
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7827
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Spinoza wanted democracy based on individual rights, and is thus the first modern political philosopher [Stewart,M]
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19926
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The sovereignty has absolute power over citizens
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25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 3. Alienating rights
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19928
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No one, in giving up their power and right, ceases to be a human being
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19918
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Forming a society meant following reason, and giving up dangerous appetites and mutual harm
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19919
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People only give up their rights, and keep promises, if they hope for some greater good
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19921
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Once you have given up your rights, there is no going back
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19925
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In democracy we don't abandon our rights, but transfer them to the majority of us
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19929
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Everyone who gives up their rights must fear the recipients of them
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19932
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The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone
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25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / c. Natural law
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19916
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The order of nature does not prohibit anything, and allows whatever appetite produces
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25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society
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19927
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State and religious law can clash, so the state must make decisions about religion
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29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 2. Judaism
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19934
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Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God
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29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 5. Bible
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4300
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The Bible has nothing in common with reasoning and philosophy
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