O homem livre em Deus por Bento Espinosa

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate how a certain and defined man can be free in a universe determined to exist exclusively by the necessity of Deus sive Natura, as Benedict Spinoza affirm. Therefore, it does the review of this author emphasizing his books Ethica and Tractatus de Intellectus Emendatione and some of his commentators. It starts with the Spinoza’s idea of the existence of a unique absolutely infinite substance – Deus sive Natura – self-cause of itself and the entire universe (spinozist model of causality). It makes explicit as the man having reformed his intellect or his intelligence he can know himself and the others things by their adequate causes which leads him to learn and understand himself and the things in his (their) perfect reality. It is discussed this man, adequate cause of himself, and the consequences for his existence with himself (conatus) in the encounter (occursus) with the other (the other man).An ethical perspective, known things by their adequate causes by an absolute affective rationalism (emotional reason), the man acts actively, composing with the other man a relationship of friendship. Trying to persevere himself in his being, he respects and preserves the other, resulting in the increase of his (their) power(s) to act and his (their) energy(s) to exist. This understanding can result in the establishment of the closest state of human nature: the democratic state. So, finally, it is concluded that the free and autonomous man in God is the spiritual automaton. He is free when – having the proper knowledge of things – he is, operates, moves, lives and exists in act according to what God commands him. He knows God and this is the beatitude.