Single Idea 17213

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

Full Idea

Men necessarily always agree with one another in so far as they live according to the guidance of reason.

Gist of Idea

In so far as men live according to reason, they will agree with one another

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], IV Pr 35)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.186


A Reaction

I think this was my earliest motivation for getting interested in philosophy. Oddly, the Socratic tradition of philosophy is to challenge and criticise, but the aim is agreement. I sort of believe this idea, despite its wild idealism.

Related Idea

Idea 12324 Consensus is the enemy of thought [Badiou]