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On Spinoza's ‘Free Man’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2015

STEVEN NADLER
STEVEN NADLER*
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISONsmnadler@wisc.edu
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Abstract:

In this paper, I examine Spinoza's ‘model of human nature’ in the Ethics, and especially his notion of the ‘free man’. I argue that, contrary to usual interpretations, the free man is not an individual without passions and inadequate ideas but rather an individual who is able consistently to live according to the guidance of reason. Therefore, it is not an impossible and unattainable ideal or incoherent concept, as has often been claimed, but a very realizable goal for the achievement of human well-being.

Keywords

history of philosophyearly modern philosophyethicsagency

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Articles
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Journal of the American Philosophical Association , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , Spring 2015 , pp. 103 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © American Philosophical Association 2015 

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