TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0. General introduction
------------------------------------ 1
1.1. Purpose off the
study------------------------------ 2
1.2. Statement of the
problem----------------------- 3
1.3. Scope of the
work------------------------------ 4
1.4.
Methodology-------------------------------------------- 5
1.5. Division of work------------------------------------- 5
1.6. A brief profile of Baruch
Spinoza-------------------- 6
CHAPTER TWO
2.0. Literature
review--------------------------------------- 8
2.1. The notion of evil and good in
ancient period---- 8
2.2. The notion of evil and good in
medieval period.-- 11
2.3. The notion of evil and good in
modern period.--- 13
2.4. The notion of evil and good in
contemporary period --- 15
CHAPTER THREE
3.0. Spinoza’s Concept of good and
evil.------------- 16
3.1. Definitions and explanations of
good ----------- 16
3.1.1. Definitions and explanations
of evil-------------- 23
3.1.2. Good and
perfection.----------------------------- 29
3.1.3. Evil and
imperfection-------------------------------- 31
3.2. Nature of good and
evil------------------------------- 33
3.2.1. Good and its
merit------------------------------------ 36
3.2.2
Evil and its demerits------------------------------ 37
3.2.3. Adequate idea/ Knowledge of
good.-------------- 39
3.2.4. Inadequate idea/ Knowledge of
evil.------------- 41
3.3. Good and its causes
-------------------------------- 44
3.4. Evil and its causes
-------------------------------------- 46
3.5
Determined good and evil.---------------------------- 47
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Utilitarianism in Spinoza’s good and
evil.-------- 49
4.2 Subjective ness of
good and evil.------------------- 51
4.3 Good and evil in relation
to pleasure and pain.-- 53
CHAPTER FIVE.
5.0. Evaluation and
conclusion.----------------------- 57
BIBLIOGRAPHY ------------------------- 64
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The problem
of good and evil in the world of ours has become questionable. Good and evil
without doubt have constituted lots of discomfort, havoc and other problems in
human life. Consequently, so many thinkers of different epochs have contributed
in one way or the other according to their own understanding, to unravel this
dilemma. Nevertheless, throughout the different periods starting from ancient
era to contemporary era, the problem of good and evil have continued to occupy
the minds of philosophers. Even at that, no consensus has been reached with
regard to a solution.
Moreover,
it may interest us to know that in this write up, we are to witness how Spinoza
scrupulously did not delve into good and evil from the same perspective with
others. His rigorous experiences of the retrospection on the previous
philosophers on this topic allured him to conceive good and evil as being
subjective.
Hence,
this solves the numerous problems of some questions people do ask: whether
there should be evil in the world created by all-powerful, all-knowing and
all-merciful God. He thus based his conception of good and evil on individual
differences: “Everyone, therefore, according to his particular emotions, judges
or estimates what is good and what is evil.” This implies that what is good for one person
may be evil for another. In fact, the problem of good and evil in the morality
of Spinoza can be summarized with one of the popular dictums, which says, “One
man’s protein is another man’s poison”. Hence, Spinoza’s good and evil should
provide solution to the aged problem of good and evil which when mentioned
remains fresh as can be seen in the work of Joseph Eno Inah who said “The
problem of good and evil whenever mentioned, remains fresh and alive despite
the fact that it started long ago.” The
problem at stake has continued to remain a mystery as ever.
1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
For the fact, that many
philosophers of different epochs have dwelt on good and evil with different
mindsets and came out with misconception of what good and evil are, Spinoza as
against these views conceived the idea of good and evil in a different
way.
However, the purpose of this work is
to expose and appraise the conception of good and evil in the morality of
Spinoza. To show how his conception of good and evil differs from that of other
philosophers.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Inspite
of the early thinker’s view on this topic, which are as aged as humanity, the
problem still lingers. The problem at stake seem to have confused its history
with the history of mankind and have being the bone of contention among
philosophers, theologians and even among humanists of all schools and epochs.
Now, one may ask, what is the solution to this problem of good and evil, which
has persistently continued to occur? Alternatively, has the problem become
insoluble or is there any hope of overcoming this problem? The above questions
are relevant questions which when considered properly as exposed by Spinoza
brings solutions to the innumerable questions philosophers do ask about good
and evil.
Therefore,
this research is an attempt to find solution to the questions above. We hope
that our exposure to the conceptions of Spinoza about good and evil would help
us to some extent in resolving the problematic notion of good and evil.
1.3 SCOPE OF WORK
Man as it were from time immemorial
associates and dissociates himself with what is good and evil respectively.
Such is man’s desire for good and aversion to evil: “Man by nature desires what
is good and averts to what is evil.”
As such, his enquiries, deliberations and thoughts on good and evil have been
an outstanding issue from time immemorial until now. My work is a journey in search of what good
and evil really are in the views of Spinoza
In
addition, I pondered on some philosophers conceptions about good and evil right
from ancient period to contemporary period. It should be obvious that grasping
of Spinoza’s teaching about good and evil will quench the thirst that
eventually could lead to the misconception of the idea of good and evil, which
leads to apportioning blames on the creator of the universe.
1.4 METHODOLOGY
The method of research,
which I applied in my work is both expository and appraisal. It is expository
in the sense that it shows in detail the works of Spinoza on good and evil. It
is also appraisal in the sense that his own conception of good and evil creates
much room to desire good and to avert evil which when done, human race will
turn from its evil ways of life to good ways of life.
1.5 DIVISION OF WORK
For easy understanding and
grasping of this work, I divided this work into five chapters.
Chapter one
is the general introduction, purpose of the study, statement of the problem,
scope of work, methodology, Division of work and a brief profile of Baruch de
Spinoza.
Chapter two
is the literature review of philosophers on good and evil. Chapter three treats
in detail the Spinozistic conception of good and evil. Chapter four is all
about peculiar things in Spinoza’s concept of good and evil. Finally, chapter
five is the evaluation and conclusion that ends this research.
1.6 A BRIEF PROFILE OF BENEDICT B. DE SPINOZA
Benedict Baruch de Spinoza
was born in 1632 in Amsterdam as a son of Jewish Marrano immigrants from
Portugal. He was educated as a Jew and excommunicated in the year 1656. He
earned his livelihood first by commerce and later by grinding lenses.
He also learned
Latin in the Franciscus Van den Enden where he conversed with a circle of
Amsterdam collegiants, who were dedicated to Cartessianism.
He lived in
Rijnsburg near Leiden in 1660 – 1663, moved to Voorburg near the Hague in
1663-1670 and finally in Hague in 1670. Some of the works of Spinoza are
Descarte’s principles of Philosophy in 1663 – Renati Descartes principiorum
philosophiae, part 1et II.
The
theological – Political Treatise in 1670 (Tractatus Theologico – Politicus)
He died in
21 February 1677. Then his friends published his other works.
Buyers has the right to create
dispute within seven (7) days of purchase for 100% refund request when
you experience issue with the file received.
Dispute can only be created when
you receive a corrupt file, a wrong file or irregularities in the table of
contents and content of the file you received.
ProjectShelve.com shall either
provide the appropriate file within 48hrs or
send refund excluding your bank transaction charges. Term and
Conditions are applied.
Buyers are expected to confirm
that the material you are paying for is available on our website
ProjectShelve.com and you have selected the right material, you have also gone
through the preliminary pages and it interests you before payment. DO NOT MAKE
BANK PAYMENT IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE.
In case of payment for a
material not available on ProjectShelve.com, the management of
ProjectShelve.com has the right to keep your money until you send a topic that
is available on our website within 48 hours.
You cannot change topic after
receiving material of the topic you ordered and paid for.
Login To Comment