A thing is free when it exists solely by the necessity of its own nature and acts by itself alone; it is constrained when determined by something external to a fixed mode of existence or action.
By Baruch Spinoza, from Ethics
Key Arguments
- Defines freedom positively by internal necessity of nature and self-determination of action.
- Defines constraint negatively by external determination to a fixed and definite method.
Source Quotes
VII. That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone. On the other hand, that thing is necessary, or rather constrained, which is determined by something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of existence or action.
That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone. On the other hand, that thing is necessary, or rather constrained, which is determined by something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of existence or action. VIII.
Key Concepts
- That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone.
- On the other hand, that thing is necessary, or rather constrained, which is determined by something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of existence or action.
Context
Ethics, Part I, Definitions (lines 10–24); foundational ethical-metaphysical distinction used later to redefine human freedom without free will.