Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout

Spinoza, like the Judeo-Christian tradition, affirms divine omnipotence, but from a profoundly different perspective. Indeed, the traditional view that “God can do anything” assumes that God has the power to manipulate nature and circumstances as He pleases. This idea justifies the institution of wo...

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Main Author: Alain Gervais Ndoba
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: École Normale Supérieure de Lyon 2020-12-01
Series:Astérion
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/asterion/5297
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author Alain Gervais Ndoba
author_facet Alain Gervais Ndoba
author_sort Alain Gervais Ndoba
collection DOAJ
description Spinoza, like the Judeo-Christian tradition, affirms divine omnipotence, but from a profoundly different perspective. Indeed, the traditional view that “God can do anything” assumes that God has the power to manipulate nature and circumstances as He pleases. This idea justifies the institution of worship by mankind in order to implore God’s mercy on their behalf. However, this interpretation of God’s power is no different from that of men of power, who can change a man’s situation at their pleasure. Spinoza criticises this interpretation which attributes human behaviour to God. He starts from the idea of infinity, in the sense of that which cannot be hindered by anything else, to show that there is nothing outside of God capable of limiting it. The idea of infinity is supplemented by the understanding of the nature of God which determines the understanding of his power. This power, far from taking the form of an arbitrary action, follows the laws which are from the outset set by nature, of which it is the necessary, both complete and perfect, expression.
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spelling doaj-art-a5bb866c7bbc40c799ed462a549d94bb2025-08-20T02:33:05ZfraÉcole Normale Supérieure de LyonAstérion1762-61102020-12-012310.4000/asterion.5297Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut toutAlain Gervais NdobaSpinoza, like the Judeo-Christian tradition, affirms divine omnipotence, but from a profoundly different perspective. Indeed, the traditional view that “God can do anything” assumes that God has the power to manipulate nature and circumstances as He pleases. This idea justifies the institution of worship by mankind in order to implore God’s mercy on their behalf. However, this interpretation of God’s power is no different from that of men of power, who can change a man’s situation at their pleasure. Spinoza criticises this interpretation which attributes human behaviour to God. He starts from the idea of infinity, in the sense of that which cannot be hindered by anything else, to show that there is nothing outside of God capable of limiting it. The idea of infinity is supplemented by the understanding of the nature of God which determines the understanding of his power. This power, far from taking the form of an arbitrary action, follows the laws which are from the outset set by nature, of which it is the necessary, both complete and perfect, expression.https://journals.openedition.org/asterion/5297SpinozaphilosophypowernatureGodinfinite
spellingShingle Alain Gervais Ndoba
Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
Astérion
Spinoza
philosophy
power
nature
God
infinite
title Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
title_full Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
title_fullStr Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
title_full_unstemmed Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
title_short Spinoza et le Dieu qui peut tout
title_sort spinoza et le dieu qui peut tout
topic Spinoza
philosophy
power
nature
God
infinite
url https://journals.openedition.org/asterion/5297
work_keys_str_mv AT alaingervaisndoba spinozaetledieuquipeuttout