Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i>
Spinoza’s philosophy argues for the freedom of individuals as singular beings in the state. This freedom is not perfect yet immanent. Freedom—according to the <i>Ethics</i>—is a consequence of true knowledge and virtue, which must be able to develop and can only be realised gradually. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Laws |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/12/3/39 |
| _version_ | 1797593842978914304 |
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| author | André Kistler |
| author_facet | André Kistler |
| author_sort | André Kistler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spinoza’s philosophy argues for the freedom of individuals as singular beings in the state. This freedom is not perfect yet immanent. Freedom—according to the <i>Ethics</i>—is a consequence of true knowledge and virtue, which must be able to develop and can only be realised gradually. The state and the laws establish the framework that makes this freedom possible. Freedom and true knowledge are basic concepts of the metaphysical system. Justice, however, appears as a legal and political concept in Spinoza’s thought, which the philosopher did not discuss in depth. Nevertheless, the concept of justice has a specific significance in the philosophical context in which it occurs in the <i>TTP</i>—especially in the wisdom of <i>King Solomon</i>—and in the <i>Ethics</i>. Justice, on the one hand, strengthens harmony, security, and freedom. On the other hand, the <i>freedom to philosophise</i> forms a condition for justice to develop according to reason. The knowledge that justice has a importance in Spinoza’s thought is consistent with the complexity of his philosophy and makes its understanding more complete. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:14:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d7cae1a59ec4b319aa49c8baefb3701 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-471X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:14:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Laws |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d7cae1a59ec4b319aa49c8baefb37012023-11-18T11:16:05ZengMDPI AGLaws2075-471X2023-04-011233910.3390/laws12030039Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i>André Kistler0Faculty of Law, University of Zurich, 8001 Zurich, SwitzerlandSpinoza’s philosophy argues for the freedom of individuals as singular beings in the state. This freedom is not perfect yet immanent. Freedom—according to the <i>Ethics</i>—is a consequence of true knowledge and virtue, which must be able to develop and can only be realised gradually. The state and the laws establish the framework that makes this freedom possible. Freedom and true knowledge are basic concepts of the metaphysical system. Justice, however, appears as a legal and political concept in Spinoza’s thought, which the philosopher did not discuss in depth. Nevertheless, the concept of justice has a specific significance in the philosophical context in which it occurs in the <i>TTP</i>—especially in the wisdom of <i>King Solomon</i>—and in the <i>Ethics</i>. Justice, on the one hand, strengthens harmony, security, and freedom. On the other hand, the <i>freedom to philosophise</i> forms a condition for justice to develop according to reason. The knowledge that justice has a importance in Spinoza’s thought is consistent with the complexity of his philosophy and makes its understanding more complete.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/12/3/39truthjusticeSpinozafreedomimmanencenormativity |
| spellingShingle | André Kistler Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> Laws truth justice Spinoza freedom immanence normativity |
| title | Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> |
| title_full | Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> |
| title_fullStr | Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> |
| title_short | Truth and Justice in Spinoza’s <i>Theological–Political Treatise</i> and the <i>Ethics</i> |
| title_sort | truth and justice in spinoza s i theological political treatise i and the i ethics i |
| topic | truth justice Spinoza freedom immanence normativity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/12/3/39 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrekistler truthandjusticeinspinozasitheologicalpoliticaltreatiseiandtheiethicsi |