Single Idea 19935

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people]

Full Idea

Nature certainly does not create peoples, individuals do, and individuals are only separated into nations by differences of language, law and morality.

Gist of Idea

Peoples are created by individuals, not by nature, and only distinguished by language and law

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 17.26)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.225


A Reaction

Quite wrong, I think. How did languages evolve if there were not already distinct peoples? Do ants and bees only form into colonies by individual choice? All social contract theories seem to make Spinoza's assumption.