| Disambiguation |
In Ethica, liber is used in 2 senses, dealt with on 2
different notes pages 1. liber (^necessarius) free as opposed to necessary. Dealt with on notes page {1d07 liber^necessarius} 2. liberus (^servus) a free man, as opposed to a slave. Subject of this notes page. |
| Meaning | Free man, as opposed to one who is a slave of emotions. A property of the man's mind (mens). |
| Occurrence | [geomap] Servitute is the keyword of the title of Part IV, libertate of Part V. Introduced in scholium 4p66s solo affectu ratione ducitur. Everywhere between {4p47} and {5p05}, "liber" is used as liberus(^servus). But at the very last occurrence of "liber", in 5p05, liber (^necessarius) is used again, explicitly referring to deductive elements prior to the introduction of pp4p67 liberus^servus. |
| NOT linked: | liber where used in opposition to necessarius, linked to 1d07 liber^necessarius.html |
| 4praef perfectione imperfectione bono malo ...servitutem voco...I call bondage... | |
| ...Human infirmity in moderating and checking the emotions I name bondage: for, when a man is a prey to his emotions, he is not his own master, but lies at the mercy of fortune: so much so, that he is often compelled, while seeing that which is better for him, to follow that which is worse. Why this is so, and what is good or evil in the emotions, I propose to show in this part of my treatise. But, before I begin, it would be well to make a few prefatory observations on perfection and imperfection, good and evil. | ...Humanam impotentiam in moderandis et coercendis affectibus servitutem voco; homo enim affectibus obnoxius sui juris non est sed fortun in cujus potestate ita est ut spe coactus sit quanquam meliora sibi videat, deteriora tamen sequi. Hujus rei causam et quid praeterea affectus boni vel mali habent, in hac parte demonstrare proposui. Sed antequam incipiam, pauca de perfectione et imperfectione deque bono et malo praefari lubet. |
| 4p66s solo affectu ratione ducitur ... wherefore I call ... slave ... free man ... | |
| ...difference between a man, who is led solely by emotion or opinion, and a man, who is led by reason. The former, whether will or no, performs actions whereof he is utterly ignorant; the latter is his own master and only performs such actions, as he knows are of primary importance in life, and therefore chiefly desires; wherefore I call the former a slave, and the latter a free man... | ...quid homo qui solo affectu seu opinione homini qui ratione ducitur, intersit. Ille enim velit nolit ea quae maxime ignorat, agit; hic autem nemini nisi sibi morem gerit et ea tantum agit quae in vita prima esse novit quaeque propterea maxime cupit et ideo illum servum, hunc autem liberum voco ... |
| {4p67 liberus^servus} ... liberus(^servus) introduced in deductive structure ... | |
| ...A free man is one who lives under the guidance of reason, who is not led by fear ....but who directly desires that which is good ...., in other words ....who strives to act, to live, and to preserve his being on the basis of seeking his own true advantage.... | Homo liber hoc est qui ex solo rationis dictamine vivit, mortis metu non ducitur ... sed bonum directe cupit ... hoc est ... agere, vivere, suum esse conservare ex fundamento proprium utile quaerendi ... |
| Equivalence claims involving liberus^servus | ||
| {4p69c} | 1. The free man is as courageous in timely retreat as in combat 2. a free man shows equal courage or presence of mind, whether he elect to give battle or to retreat. | 1. Homini igitur libero que magnae animositati fuga in tempore ac pugna ducitur 2. homo liber eadem animositate seu [non-excl non-exh] animi praesentia qua certamen fugam eligit. |