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Spinozian consequentialism of ethics of social consequences Cover

Spinozian consequentialism of ethics of social consequences

Open Access
|Jul 2018

Abstract

The present article deals with specific normative concepts of Spinoza’s ethical system and compares them to certain aspects of the theory of ethics of social consequences. At first, a way to approach the problem of normativity in Spinoza is presented, concentrating on the obligatory character of rational - or intellectual - motives. Then, theoretical evidence is presented which links Spinoza to normative-ethical consequentialism. The basis for a consequentialist model of Spinoza’s ethics is the concept of perfection, and on this basis it seems possible to consider its compatibility with non-utilitarian forms of consequentialism, such as ethics of social consequences. Conclusively, the paper’s aim is to present the possibility of considering Spinozian consequentialism as a non-utilitarian consequentialism, while considering ethics of social consequences as a contemporary form of Spinozian consequentialism.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2018-0008 | Journal eISSN: 2453-7829 | Journal ISSN: 1338-5615
Language: English
Page range: 41 - 50
Published on: Jul 19, 2018
Published by: University of Prešov
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2018 Michaela Petrufová Joppová, published by University of Prešov
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.