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Single Idea 8020

[from 'The Ethics' by Baruch de Spinoza, in 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / a. Natural freedom ]

Full Idea

In Spinoza, self-knowledge, and only self-knowledge, liberates.

Gist of Idea

Only self-knowledge can liberate us

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]) by Alasdair MacIntyre - A Short History of Ethics Ch.10

Book Reference

MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'A Short History of Ethics' [Routledge 1967], p.144


A Reaction

Spinoza was a determinist, as far as ultimate inner freedom is concerned. The massive continental philosophers' effort of phenomenology and deconstruction seems to be premissed on this idea. Freedom seems to be their highest value.