Com Negri, contra Negri: possíveis críticas à teoria do poder constituinte de Antonio Negri a partir da filosofia de Baruch de Espinosa

Abstract

The constituent power theory conceived by Antonio Negri – based mainly on thoughts of Machiavelli, Marx and Spinoza – is remarkably different from other concepts of constituent power, therefore, instead of trying to decrease it or control it, Negri states the constituent power as an absolut, boundless and unfinished procedure. Identifying itself with the concept of politics and claiming for a democratic revolution, Negri’s constituent power theory not only criticizes ordinary definitions and limitations of constituent power conceived by juridical and sociological scholars, but also rejects their assumptions and major arguments, adopting, consequently, theories usually forgotten, perhaps even disliked such as the Machiavellian political thoughts, the Marxian materialism and the Spinozian philosophical immanency. Despite of the notable feature, the strong philosophical arguments and the complex research accomplished by Negri on formulation of his concept of constituent power, this work will try to present, although briefly, some comments about his thesis based on Spinoza’s philosophy. Considering Negri had used Spinoza’s philosophy as foremost argument of his theoretical proposition, including, embracing and interpreting specific terms of this philosophical theory, it will be analyzed themes as like free necessity, science and dynamics of affections and law, which – because of relevance to Spinoza’s literature - deserve to be thoughtfully examined and compared with elements of Negri’s constituent power theory.