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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Este trabalho visa reelaborar o conceito de poder instituinte a partir duma leitura conjunta
de Maquiavel e Espinosa. Mais especificamente, pretende-se ver como ambos os autores, ao
reflectirem sobre a relação entre sociedade e instituições, já identificam aquelas que
consideramos as principais características do referido poder, a saber: 1) o seu carácter
conflitual; 2) a sua inapropriabilidade; 3) o facto de consistir num processo contínuo, sem
princípio nem fim. Demais, pretende-se ainda determinar o que Maquiavel e Espinosa
entendem exactamente por “instituição” (no sentido nominal do termo). Para isso, faremos
uma análise, tão exaustiva quanto possível, das diversas instituições (históricas ou ideais)
por eles tratadas, tentando apreender, para lá das especificidades de cada delas, a sua
comum essência funcional. No tocante à estrutura, esta tese divide-se em duas partes: a
primeira ocupa-se da república romana, tal como aparece concebida nos Discorsi sopra la
prima deca di Tito Livio; a segunda debruça-se sobre a noção espinosista de “potência
multitudinária” (multitudinis potentia). Mas além dos dois ditos temas, abordaremos ainda
outros — como a problemática da imitação em Maquiavel, ou o uso da linguagem vulgar em
Espinosa — que, embora não estando directamente ligados ao nosso tópico central, são
indispensáveis à compreensão do quadro teórico em que ele se inscreve. O que segue não é,
nem aspira a ser, um estudo comparativo, pelo que, apesar de existirem múltiplas
continuidades entre os autores trabalhados, só pontualmente lhes faremos referência,
quando a marcha da investigação o exigir, e na medida em que isso concorra para o
esclarecimento do assunto em apreço. Ressalve-se também que não tencionamos
apresentar Maquiavel e Espinosa como teóricos sistemáticos do poder instituinte;
procuraremos somente colher, num sobrevoo das suas obras, certos elementos que
intervêm, ou estão implícitos, nesse conceito, e de cuja síntese pode resultar, acreditamos,
um útil contributo para o seu entendimento.
This work aims to re-elaborate the concept of instituent power through a joint reading of Machiavelli and Spinoza. More specifically, it intends to see how both authors, while reflecting on the relation between society and institutions, already identify those we consider to be the defining characteristics of the mentioned power: namely, his conflictual nature; 2) his inappropriability; 3) the fact that it consists in a continuous process, without beginning nor end. Additionally, the present work intends to ascertain what Machiavelli and Spinoza exactly understand by “institution” (in the nominal sense of the word). To this end, it carries out a thorough analysis of the various (historical and ideal) institutions they discuss, and it tries to apprehend, beyond the specificities of each of those institutions, their common functional essence. Regarding structure, this thesis divides into two parts: the first deals with the roman republic as conceived in the Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio; the second focuses on the Spinozist notion of “multitudinous power” (multitudinis potentia). But besides these, I will address several other themes — such as the problematic of imitation in Machiavelli, or the use of ordinary language in Spinoza — that, though not directly related to the main topic, are indispensable to the understanding of the theoretical framework in which it is inscribed. What follows is not, nor aspires to be, a comparative study. Hence, despite there being multiples continuities between the studied authors, I shall refer to them only occasionally, whenever the progress of the work demands it, and to the extent that helps to clarify the matter under discussion. It’s also worth noting that I don’t intend to present Machiavelli and Spinoza as systematic theoreticians of instituent power. I merely try, through an overview of their works, to collect certain elements that intervene or are implied in such concept, and from whose synthesis results what I believe may be a useful contribution for his comprehension.
This work aims to re-elaborate the concept of instituent power through a joint reading of Machiavelli and Spinoza. More specifically, it intends to see how both authors, while reflecting on the relation between society and institutions, already identify those we consider to be the defining characteristics of the mentioned power: namely, his conflictual nature; 2) his inappropriability; 3) the fact that it consists in a continuous process, without beginning nor end. Additionally, the present work intends to ascertain what Machiavelli and Spinoza exactly understand by “institution” (in the nominal sense of the word). To this end, it carries out a thorough analysis of the various (historical and ideal) institutions they discuss, and it tries to apprehend, beyond the specificities of each of those institutions, their common functional essence. Regarding structure, this thesis divides into two parts: the first deals with the roman republic as conceived in the Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio; the second focuses on the Spinozist notion of “multitudinous power” (multitudinis potentia). But besides these, I will address several other themes — such as the problematic of imitation in Machiavelli, or the use of ordinary language in Spinoza — that, though not directly related to the main topic, are indispensable to the understanding of the theoretical framework in which it is inscribed. What follows is not, nor aspires to be, a comparative study. Hence, despite there being multiples continuities between the studied authors, I shall refer to them only occasionally, whenever the progress of the work demands it, and to the extent that helps to clarify the matter under discussion. It’s also worth noting that I don’t intend to present Machiavelli and Spinoza as systematic theoreticians of instituent power. I merely try, through an overview of their works, to collect certain elements that intervene or are implied in such concept, and from whose synthesis results what I believe may be a useful contribution for his comprehension.
Description
Keywords
Maquiavel Espinosa Poder instituinte Conflito Multidão