IL TIMORE DELLA GUERRA GIUSTALE VIEDELLA PACENELLA

This paper identifies and analyses two distinct views that characterize Spinoza’s position on (just) war, namely Machiavellism and a sort of Kantianism ante litteram. While Machiavellism influences Spinoza’s considerations about international relations, kantian-like arguments can be found in all passages that concern foreign policy. Hence, a complete account of Spinoza’s thoughts about war and peace can be given only if each one of these dimensions is given due attention. His arguments about the unconditional rightfulness of war may indeed appear to be anything but pacifistic, but they do not preclude a sincere concern about peace. On the contrary, as I’m arguing in this paper, Spinoza’s ingenious idea of a pacific foreign policy can be understood as a reaction to the historical failure of early modern theories of just war.