Spinozova filozofija afektov
Spinoza’s philosophy of affects

slovenian

2025

volume 29, issue 1

affects   freedom   psychology

Društvo za analitično filozofijo in filozofijo znanosti
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

In his Ethics (1677), Spinoza defends monism – the idea that there exists a single substance that is identical with God and nature. Mind and body are its expressions, which we perceive as two distinct attributes (of the same substance): thought and extension. Spinoza’s philosophy of affects (developed in Parts Three and Four of the Ethics ) focuses on understanding human emotions as natural phenomena governed by the universal laws of nature. According to Spinoza, a person who does not master their affects is a slave to fate, while freedom can be achieved through the guidance of reason. He distinguishes between active and passive affects: active affects arise from reason and enhance a person’s power, whereas passive affects diminish their capacity to act. Spinoza’s philosophy offers a theoretical framework for understanding emotions that was revolutionary for his time and remains influential even in contemporary psychological and neuroscientific research.

09.06.2026