Spinoza, liberalism and ‘the class of 1632’

Ramet, Sabrina P. (author)

Spinoza, Pufendorf and Locke all championed freedom of thought (including freedom of religion) and of speech; all three thinkers deserve credit for having forged the fundamental principles of the liberal tradition. Spinoza, in particular, was the first writer in modern times to articulate a systematic defence of democracy. He believed that the state should promote the welfare of its citizens, while maximising their freedom. Although he equated right with power, he also advocated respect for the moral law, stressing the importance of being good to other people.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Baruch de Spinoza, John Locke, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, liberalism
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 20.07.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 295–315, 336-337
• Numbering: Letn. 60, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148135
• UDC: 316.77:342.7
• ISSN on article: 0040-3598
• DOI: 10.51936/tip.60.2.295
• COBISS.SI-ID: 159342851
• Publication date in RUL: 27.07.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Teorija in praksa : revija za družbena vprašanja
• Shortened title: Teor. praksa
• Publisher: Fakulteta za družbene vede
• ISSN: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763652

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Spinoza, liberalizem in “letnik 1632”

Abstract

Spinoza, Pufendorf in Locke so vsi zagovarjali svobodo misli (vključno s svobodo religije) in govora; tem trem mislecem gre zahvala za osnovanje temeljnih načel liberalne tradicije. Zlasti Spinoza je bil prvi pisec v modernem času, ki je artikuliral sistematični zagovor demokracije. Verjel je, da mora država spodbujati dobrobit svojih državljanov in jim zagotavljati kar največ svobode. Čeprav je pravico enačil z močjo, je tudi zagovarjal spoštovanje moralnega zakona in poudarjal pomen dobrote do drugih.

• Keywords: Baruch de Spinoza, John Locke, svoboda religije, svoboda misli, liberalizem