A Study On Ethical Freedom Thoughts Of Spinoza

People have made consensus on that freedom should cover the contents of ethical freedom, although the understanding on freedom may differ for different times or different people. In the history of mankind, many thinkers have developed in the problem of ethical freedom and made a remarkable contribution to human being's freedom, civilization as well as development. Spinoza, a distinguished Holland moralist, is one represent of them.On the whole, there are three theoretical sources in Spinoza's ethical freedom. The first is from the ethical freedom thoughts of ancient Greece. At that time, people already had a certain deep understanding on ethical freedom. Freewill, freedom state and the realization of ethical freedom all greatly affect Spinoza. The second source is from the ethical freedom thoughts of middle ancient period. Under the control of religious spirit at that time, ethical freedom thoughts had not been developing for a long time, yet with the coming of Renaissance, the affirming and valuing of human freedom greatly develop the thoughts of ethical freedom. This provides Spinoza a sufficient theoretical source. The third is from the ethical freedom thoughts of Hobbes, which is the direct source. It is Spinoza's thought of self-preserving as well as the understanding on the relationship between freedom and necessity that was deeply affected by Hobbes.The contents of Spinoza's ethical freedom thoughts cover three aspects: The first aspect is on the essence of ethical freedom. Spinoza's ethnics are the purpose of his philosophy, and the problem of freedom is the kernel of his ethics. The whole system of his thoughts is constructed in the centre of freedom, and in an expressive form of ethical freedom. The essence of his ethical freedom thoughts has two points: the first point is that ethical freedom is a kind of ability. Spinoza holds that will and reason can be unified. To say will is a kind of ability means that the so called yes-no ability with which people can judge what is true or what is false soul and consciousness. He opposes the non-restricted freedom view-holders who assumes that will, just a mode of thought, and can exist and act only when it is determined by another reason. However, Spinoza assumes that will is necessity. This does not mean that human has no freewill. Freedom is a kind of"free necessity", which, once obtained, will enable human to obtain freedom. The second point is ethical freedom is a kind of perfect state. Freedom is a kind of virtue or a kind of perfection. The kernel of Spinoza's philosophy is ethnics, which is the so-called goodness or true perfection. And this goodness or true goodness is the most perfect state as well as the freest state. The second aspect is on the foundation of ethical freedom. Spinoza considers that substance, God and nature can be unified. Substance is necessarily existing, unique as well as eternal. Substance can be understood by people through two attributes of thought and extension. Human is one mode of substance, existing and acting on substance. However substance or God exists and acts on the necessity of its nature, so it is freedom. Freedom and necessity do not contradict. Freedom is a kind of necessity. Necessity can be divided"forceful necessity"(external necessity) and"free necessity"( internal necessity). Thus freedom is"free necessity", while necessity is just"forceful necessity". Human has the nature of self-preserving, and each of us should preserve his or her self-existing. This is the natural right of human. This self-preserving power is the power of God. By two ways, God determines the actions of human: One is by constituting the nature of each individual. When this way is used, human's action is no of freedom; another way is by constituting the real nature of human self. When this way is used, human's action is of freedom. Knowledge is of importance regarding to obtaining freedom for human. Knowledge can be divided three kinds: perceptual (imagery or idea), rational and intuitional. Respectively these three kinds of knowledge correspond to three kinds of living states: nature, nation and freedom state. The third aspect in the contents of Spinoza's ethical freedom thoughts is on the realization of ethical freedom. To realize freedom needs to combine self-discipline and he-discipline. Self-discipline means to control emotion with rationality, while he-discipline to build a rationality nation. Spinoza divides motion into active and passive emotion. Human lacks of freedom when restrained by emotion. To obtain freedom needs the guidance of rationality over the passive emotion. Only through self-discipline can not realize the freedom of human. He-discipline is indispensable. That means to build rationality nation. Spinoza holds that the most powerful and fully right nation is the one that is on the ground of rationality and in the guidance of rationality. So in all forms of regime, the democratic nation is the most natural, most human-freedom-conformed and most of nationality. Nation should protect human freedom. But to protect freedom means to restrain freedom. Freedom can fall into three kinds: freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of action. Freedom of thought and speech can not be deprived. However, freedom of speech can not be totally unrestrained. Freedom of speech should not endanger the security of nation and the regime of the governors. Regarding to freedom of action, Spinoza considers that human should abandon it.Spinoza's ethical freedom thought has a far reaching influence in the circle of European thoughts, and enlightening to the freedom view of Marxism. In this sense, even in the present China, it is of great theory value and reality significance for us building a harmonious socialist society.