Spinoza and International Law: Bleak Take on Self-Help or a Strong Belief in Humanity?

Year 2017, Issue: 28, 173 - 180, 30.04.2017

Gökhan Güneysu

https://doi.org/10.20981/kaygi.310295

Abstract

Spinoza foresees a state of nature among states, just like the one among human beings. Human beings, under this chaotic condition, are not bound by the contracts they have concluded, if these contracts have lost their utility. States, too, may cease to observe those international agreements, if obedience to these is not advantageous any more for the state concerned, or whenever there is a more advantageous alternative than those perks offered by the international agreement. These findings have led many scholars of International Relations and International Law to deem Spinoza as a thinker in the mold of Hobbes or the like, someone who allocates no place for morality in political affairs. Spinoza proves at times to be a stingier critic of morality than Hobbes, yet he still calls for cooperation on international fora. This he does by distancing himself from the rhetoric of natural law. International solidarity, according to him, will enable participating states to be more powerful and to enjoy more rights. Yet again, he does not set idealistic goals and just underlines the more advantageous state to be created owing to the establishment of such a peaceful cooperation.

Keywords

Spinoza, Public International Law, International Legal Theory

References

• ALTWICKER, Tilmann (2014). “Spinozas Theorie der internationalen Beziehungen (Kapitel 3, 11-18)”, Spinoza, Politischer Traktat: Ein Kommentar, Eds. Wolfgang Bartuschat, Stephan Kirste ve Manfred Walther, Tübingen, 67-77.
• CURLEY, Edwin (1991). “The State of Nature and Its Law in Hobbes and Spinoza”, Philosophical Topics, Vol. 19, No.1, Spring, 97-117.
• LAUTERPACHT, Hersch (1927). “Spinoza and International Law”, The British Yearbook of International Law, Vol. 8, 89-107.
• MENZEL, Adolf (1907). “Spinoza und Das Völkerrecht”, Zeitschrift für Völkerrecht, Vol. 2, 17-30.
• MOLLOY, Sean (2013). “Spinoza, Carr, and the Ethics of the Twenty Years’ Crisis“, Review of International Studies, Vol. 39, 252-271.
• NIEMI, Jari. “Benedict de Spinoza: Political Philosophy”, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• POLAT, Necati (2010). “Peace as War“, Alternatives 35, 317-345.
• SCHRADER, Wolfgang (1977). “Naturrecht und Selbsterhaltung: Spinoza und Hobbes”, Zeitschrift für Philosophische Forschung, Band 31, Heft 4, 574-583.
• SPINOZA, Benedictus (2015). Politik İnceleme (Tractatus Politicus), Dost Kitabevi, Ankara.
• SPINOZA, Benedictus (2010). Teolojik-Politik İnceleme, Dost Kitabevi, Ankara.
• SPINOZA, Benedictus (2014). A Political Treatise, (Translated by R.H.M. ELWES), EBooks @ University of Adelaide, < https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/spinoza/benedict/political/index.html >.
• TALAY TURNER, Zeynep (2016). “Nietzsche and Spinoza: Thinking Freedom”, Kaygı. Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi, Issue 26, Spring 2016, 1-20.
• TÜRKMEN, Sevinç (2014). “Spinoza’da Sonsuzluk Sorunu ve Praksis”, Kaygı. Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi, Issue 23, Fall 2014, 117-127.
• VERDROSS, Alfred (1928). “Das Völkerrecht im Systeme von Spinoza“, Zeitschrift für Öffentliches Recht, 100-105.
• WALTHER, Manfred (2003). “Natural Law, Civil Law, and International Law in Spinoza”, Cardozo Law Review, Vol: 25:2, 657-665.
• YOUNKINS, Edward W. (2006). “Spinoza on Freedom, Ethics and Politics”, Le Québécois Libre, No. 178. < http://www.quebecoislibre.org/06/060507-2.htm >.