Cattedra Rotelli

Spinoza as Moral Philosopher – Reason, Freedom and Moral Philosophy in Spinoza's Thought

14–18 March 2022
 

The sixth edition of the Rotelli Lectures at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University welcomed Steven Nadler, philosopher and scholar of early modern philosophy, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for a series of five lectures entitled Spinoza as Moral Philosopher.

Through a renewed examination of Baruch Spinoza's thought, Nadler explored the central role of moral philosophy in his work, focusing on the relationship between reason, freedom, passions and human behaviour. The lectures offered a reflection on the foundations of ethical life and the possibility of directing human actions towards the good, bringing Spinoza's philosophy into dialogue with the thought of Thomas Hobbes and Aristotle.

The five lectures focused on the ethical dimension of Spinoza's philosophy, which is often approached primarily through his metaphysical and epistemological theories. Nadler brought renewed attention to the meaning of the good life and the possibility of achieving human freedom through the exercise of reason.

The series began with the figure of the "free person", the moral ideal described by Spinoza in his Ethics: an individual capable of directing actions through reason rather than being governed by the passions. Building on this model, Nadler examined the meaning of good and bad, showing how, in Spinoza's philosophy, these are not absolute properties of things but relational characteristics connected to their capacity to improve or diminish an individual's condition.

Another central theme concerned the role of motivation in the moral evaluation of actions. Through an analysis of conatus, the fundamental striving of every being to persevere in existence, Nadler explored the relationship between self-interest and ethical behaviour, highlighting how, for Spinoza, the moral value of an action also depends on whether it is guided by rational understanding or by the passions.

The discussion then moved to the social dimension of ethics, examining the ambivalence of human relationships through a comparison with Thomas Hobbes and the well-known expression homo homini lupus. Relationships with others were explored in terms of both cooperation and conflict, showing how human beings can represent either a source of mutual benefit or an obstacle to one another.

The final lecture addressed the meaning of friendship in Spinoza and Aristotle, comparing their respective accounts of friendship and considering how rational concern for one's own well-being can be reconciled with the development of genuine and lasting relationships.

Bringing together history of philosophy, ethics and moral philosophy, the series highlighted the importance of Spinoza's reflections on the good life, demonstrating how freedom, reason and interpersonal relationships are fundamental dimensions of human flourishing.

Program of the Rotelli Lectures 2021:

• 14 March, 16.00 – 18.30 (CET)

Lecture 1: “The Free Person”

Discussant: Massimo Reichlin (CeSEP, IRCECP)

• 15 March, 16.00 – 18.30 (CET)

Lecture 2: Good and Bad

Discussant: Giacomo Petrarca (Diaporein)

• 16 March, 16.00 – 18.30 (CET)

Lecture 3: Moral Motivation

Discussant: Roberto Mordacci (CeSEP, IRCECP)

• 17 March, 16.00 – 18.30 (CET)

Lecture 4: Homo Homini Lupus

Discussant: Stefano Pinzan (CeSEP, IRCECP)

• 18 March, 16.00 – 18.30 (CET)

Lecture 5: Spinoza vs. Aristotle on Friendship

Discussant: Giuseppe Girgenti (CRISI)

The philosophical questions explored throughout the lecture series are further developed in Spinoza e Aristotele. Sull'amicizia. Lezioni milanesi per la Cattedra Rotelli (Mimesis, 2023), which examines the relationship between Spinoza's and Aristotle's conceptions of friendship, focusing on self-interest, rationality and the development of genuine interpersonal bonds.