On Human Right

According to Spinoza’s Theory of Individual Thing

Abstract

This paper considers on human right according to Spinoza’s theory of individual thing. For that reason, mainly from two sides of Spinoza’s ontology and epistemology, we examine this problem. In the first place, to make clear the meanings of ‘individual thing’ and ‘particular thing’, we validate Spinoza’s argument. Herewith, it is revealed that individual thing expresses individual providence and universal providence that originated in ‘God or Nature’. Based on this logic, Spinoza defines right as follows; “By natural right I understand the very laws or rules of nature, in accordance with which everything takes place, in other words, the power of nature itself”. In the second place, after having confirmed Grotius’s theory of right which Spinoza depended on, we consider the activity that human beings take cognisance of their own rights. The activity called intuition is investigated here. Then finally, with the above-mentioned results, we examine the problem of human right from anthropological aspect. It is basic analysis of possession and emotion. In conclusion, considering human right along Spinoza’s theory of individual thing, the following can be said; the human beings try to affirm their own life with conatus that is their own nature, in company with others who have it as their own nature in the same way.