Spinoza’s Secret for a Good Life

Baruch Spinoza was undoubtedly one of the greatest philosophical minds of history. But does his philosophy have relevance beyond the halls of academia? Can Spinoza, in all his wisdom, help us in our everyday lives? In this vid we share what might be Spinoza’s most powerful idea, one whose insight, if fully digested, might just be literally life changing. Presenting: Spinoza’s Secret to Living a Blessed Life.

Check out the rest of our Spinoza Series:

00:00 Intro
01:22 The Good Life?
04:06 The Ethics
06:43 Nature, before and after Spinoza
08:13 Determinism and Free Will
09:41 Determinism and Freedom
12:06 Spinoza’s Theory of Knowledge
14:32 Intuitive Knowledge
16:16 The Passions
17:37 The Path of Necessity
22:28 The Path of Internalization
24:35 Conclusion

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#Spinoza
#Eudimonia
#Blessed

[Jason-msbv]

I feel predetermined to post a comment (though not against my will); Thanks so much for this series on Spinoza, his thinking certainly deserves a balanced and academic treatment and this is it. I hadn't realized until listening to this episode how many similarities there are with Taoist, Buddhist and Phyrronist thinking there are in Spinozas' approach, you've given me a lot to think ( and read ) about Zevi!! Loving your project, let's all seek Unity!!

[paula]

You changed my life. Literally. I felt my chest really tense for years and because of this Spinoza playlist this tension finally went away. Finally! I feel so relaxed I can't believe it. Thank you

[marqpsmythe]

I’ve been studying The Ethics for almost three years now. This series has been very helpful for me in clarifying the initially opaque concepts. Thanks!

[yeyohuevonhassassin]

Spinoza has to be one of the most insightful and complete philosphers out there, once you understand him you feel a bit enlightened.

[ramyafennell]

Surely this struggle over labels of atheist...mystic...pantheism is the struggle of the Abrahamic religious mindset coming to with terms with the authoritarian structures of its three main strains. From within Zen or Advaita or Tao we have knowledge systems that lead us to the understanding that the seed and tree are one...the same...it all is. Faith systems have dominated over the interpretation of other knowledge systems...and over the philosophers within their own for centuries. And so thank you thank you a million times for adding your brilliant mind to this process of freedom from centuries of conditioning and exposing the inadequacy of labels which have invented the idea of paradox....where there is none. Labels are only tools to understanding...they are not real...they have no isness. Beautiful channel you are blessed.

[frialsharefabdo]

💚 💚 💚 From Syria.... We are all One pure Love and One pure Consciousness... our true nature Is beyond our Perception... our essence Is pure Love, peace, stillness, bliss and pure Awareness.
" Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that some Spirit is manifested in the laws of the universe. One that is vastly superior to that of man " ~ Albert Einstein

[ViniciusDavi_]

absolutely loved this spinoza's series, can't thank you enough! much love from brazil <3

[HalTuberman]

You are nailing this material, Zevi. You demonstrate that you have contemplated and genuinely understand Spinoza's metaphysics... especially by explaining how a mind with adequate ideas is free... even in a determined world. Perfection.
You may have the most comprehensive and best-explained introduction to Spinoza on YouTube. This video shows that you grasp Spinoza's philosophy because you are proceeding skillfully to the truth at the heart of the Ethics.
I majored in philosophy in college and devoted a great deal of time to studying the Ethics while there. (As an atheistic pantheist, I'm sure you can imagine what kind of hero Spinoza is to me.) As far as I can tell, you interpret the Ethics exactly as I do, and you've made no errors in your analysis. Not that I'm an expert of any kind, but I thought that was worth sharing.

I'm delighted to see you are now going to delve into the issue of Spinoza's (possible) mysticism. Before you even mentioned it, I thought to myself "Wouldn't it be great if (after having established Spinoza's de facto atheism) Zevi explored Spinoza's mystical tendencies?" I can't wait for the next video.
Sorry for posting an essay under each of your videos, but I want you to know I'm loving this content and that what you are giving is being received.

[samwalsh-bo]

Never commented on a video before but this video is one of the most helpful explanations I have come across for any topic. Just want to say thank you, you did an amazing job

[ahmedh.]

I've read and watched a fair amount on Spinoza, and your explanation of his philosophy is the finest I've seen. Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

[lewisalmeida]

Thank you for your excellent podcast, giving us an overview of the importance of Spinoza's philosophy. As a student of Spinoza's philosophy, I have studied Spinoza's Ethics extensively, and I believe to really understand Spinoza, you must live his ideas. I have more than a theoretical concept. After 40 years of work, I now teach, mentor, and coach those who want to live, understand, and love as Spinoza did.

[svn]

I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, but you already became one of my favorite philosophy channels on YouTube! Somehow you radiate calmness and contentment together with a lot of curiosity and knowledge, seems like you’re not only learning about philosophy but are applying it in everyday life:)

[stevenwilgus]

To treat every human being as a shrine of God is to fulfill all religion.

Bowl of Saki, January 20, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

[gordonbryce]

Nice one! Pause for thought: Spinoza's link to Portugal and the family's possible trading connection to Portuguese Goa in India. Had Spinoza encountered Buddhism? A single moment of insight into an essence 14.59 of supreme Substance. An instantaneous recognition of the whole! A sickness of the mind that spins us in an eternal tale, which we can transcend....

[rafael]

This make a lot of sense. Since I was a little kid all things had value and were important and were part of all. No religion ever came close to help me understand anything. Religion only filled me with feeling lost in a way, and unable to understand anything at all. When I was 9 a nun told me I was a sinner just because I was born, and hells fire was 350 degree centigrate, and purgatory fire was even hotter. But one day we would get out of purgatory but we would never get out of hell. I gess I am a recovering catholic.

[HussainFahmy]

*_A purposeful life is a blessed life._*

[Thedanishphilosopher]

Very informative Zevi. I especially liked your interpretation on why Spinoza called it Ethics. Thanks for this collabinoza.

[MikeWiest]

0:03 Inspiration for Princess Leia’s hair 😊

[francosalgado]

It's a pleasure to find content like this!

[tedetienne]

I’ve really been enjoying this series on Spinoza! I’ve always had disagreements with his strict determinism. This video helped clarify his reasoning for me. I still think he’s wrong about the universe’s necessity to be exactly as it is, but I understand his point much better!