Homo suum sibi utile quaerit: the useful as an ontological foundation of sociability through the lens of Spinoza
Abstract
This article examines the use of the concept utilis, in the light of Spinoza. The term utility has been coined and used by utilitarian and liberal philosophy, forming together a discursive and practical amalgam. Spinoza, who has been described as a liberal thinker by some interpreters, makes abundant use of the concepts utility, freedom and individual. However, a rigorous examination based on the totality of his work has lead us to acknowledge that the utility, from Spinoza’s lens, must be interpreted from the value of life, the collective, and affections such as firmness and generosity. Our conclusion is that the useful is the foundation of sociability, and, therefore, the term multitude synthesizes the ontological necessity of the collective, in Spinoza's philosophy.
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