Ask a normal guy studying philosophy anything

[iceypain]

“Men are deceived in thinking themselves free, a belief that consists only in this,
that they are conscious of their actions and ignorant of the causes by which they are
determined,” says Spinoza (Ethics IIP35, schol. – 178/2; see also Appendix to Part I, 160/
2). Explain (a) what is the illusory notion of human freedom that Spinoza is rejecting
here, (b) what is on his view the true nature of freedom (IDef7 – 144/2), and (c) why,
though in this sense “God alone is a true cause” (IP17, cor.2 – 152/1), we too are capable
of approaching a true freedom of this sort or “blessedness” (VPref – 188/1 and VP36,
schol. – 192/1). Then evaluate both the negative [= (a)] and the positive [= (b) + (c)]
parts of Spinoza’s theory of freedom.

halp