The Force of Ideas in Spinoza

Political Theory 35 (6):732-755 (2007)
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Abstract

This paper offers an interpretation of Spinoza's theory of ideas as a theory of power. The consideration of ideas in terms of force and vitality figures ideology critique as a struggle within the power of thought to give life support to some ideas, while starving others. Because ideas, considered absolutely on Spinoza's terms, are indifferent to human flourishing, they survive, thrive, or atrophy on the basis of their relationship to ambient ideas. Thus, the effort to think and live well requires attention to the collective dimensions of thinking life, where "collective" refers to a transpersonal accumulation of ideal power that includes human as well as nonhuman beings. Because it is a matter of force and power rather than truth and falsity, the project of thinking otherwise entails an effort to displace and to reorganize ideas that is best undertaken by coordinating and galvanizing many thinking powers.

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Hasana Sharp
McGill University

Citations of this work

Two Puzzles Concerning Spinoza's Conception of Belief.Justin Steinberg - 2018 - European Journal of Philosophy 26 (1):261-282.
The Politics of Affect.Susan Ruddick - 2010 - Theory, Culture and Society 27 (4):21-45.
Spinoza and the Feeling of Freedom.Galen Barry - 2016 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 94 (4):1-15.
Spinoza and constituent power.Filippo Del Lucchese - 2016 - Contemporary Political Theory 15 (2):182-204.

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References found in this work

The Letters. Spinoza, Samuel Shirley, Steven Barbone, Lee Rice & Jacob Adler (eds.) - 1995 - Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.
What Kind of Democrat was Spinoza?Steven B. Smith - 2005 - Political Theory 33 (1):6-27.
Philosophical Strategies: Althusser and Spinoza.Peter Thomas - 2002 - Historical Materialism 10 (3):71-113.

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