A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV] — Baruch Spinoza — John Shaqi
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]
Baruch Spinoza · en
[19:4] Position of the Apostles exceptional.
[19:5] Why Christian States, unlike the Hebrew,
suffer from disputes between the civil
and ecclesiastical powers.
[19:6] Absolute power in things spiritual of modern rulers.
[20:0] CHAPTER XX - That in a Free State every man
may Think what he Likes, and Say what he Thinks.
[20:1] The mind not subject to State authority.
[20:2] Therefore in general language should not be.
[20:3] A man who disapproving of a law, submits his adverse opinion
to the judgment of the authorities, while acting in
accordance with the law, deserves well of the State.
[20:4] That liberty of opinion is beneficial, shown from
the history of Amsterdam.
[20:5] Danger to the State of withholding it. -
Submission of the Author to the
judgment of his country's rulers.
[Author's Endnotes] to the Treatise.
[16:0] CHAPTER XVI - OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF A STATE; OF THE
NATURAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS; AND OF THE
RIGHTS OF THE SOVEREIGN POWER.
(1) Hitherto our care has been to separate philosophy from theology, and to
show the freedom of thought which such separation insures to both. (2) It is
now time to determine the limits to which such freedom of thought and
discussion may extend itself in the ideal state. (3) For the due
consideration of this question we must examine the foundations of a State,
first turning our attention to the natural rights of individuals, and
afterwards to religion and the state as a whole.