Will, Democracy, Heteronomy

Spinoza's recognition of the natural right to heteronomous behavior, in conjunction with his contention that Democracy violates no natural right, compromises his concept of Democracy in three ways. First, the conjunction conflicts with the status of Democracy as an adequate idea, i. e. as one which does not accommodate heteronomous behavior. Second, it encourages the interpretation of Democracy as an economic system that is primarily a means to the satisfaction of every wish. Finally, it, therefore, leaves his concept of Democracy vulnerable to the Straussian charge that it fundamentally promotes self-indulgence. In contrast, the interpretation here avoids that compromise, by emphasizing that Democracy is primarily an ongoing collectively active process, rooted in the exercise of the Will of each of its participants. The entailed denial, on Spinozist grounds, of natural right to heteronomous behavior, has previously been discussed.