This brief work is intended at interpreting the 49th paragraph of the 8th chapter of Spinoza´s Political Treatise, about the academies founded by the Republic. In this short paragraph, with seven lines, the Dutch philosopher states that the academies supported by the Republic were useful rather to constrain one's spirit than to cultivate it. He also states that in a free Republic, on the other hand, each person should be given a license to teach publicly, at his/her own risk (in terms of reputation) and expense. Such passage is strictly related to the 20th chapter of A Theologico-Political Treatise, written by the same author, approaching freedom of thought and speech. Through an interpretation of the 49th paragraph, this work will finally show that freedom of teaching, in a free republic as thought by Spinoza, is placed between the imperium organization and a teacher´s initiative.
Espinoza; Bento de (1632-1677); freedom of teaching; Political Treatise; educational philosophy