logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
18m 44s

What is Spinoza's God?

FILIP HOLM
About this episode

Spinoza is one of the most controversial and debated philosophers in the last few centuries. This episode attempts to give a very general overview of his perspective on God as well as some ways that it can be interpreted.


Sources/Suggested Reading:

  • Garrett, Don (1996). "The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza". Cambridge University Press.
  • Nadler, Steven (2018). "Spinoza: A Life". Cambridge University Press.
  • Wolfson, Harry Austryn (2014). "The Philosophy of Spinoza: Unfolding the Latent Processes of His Reasoning". Harvard University Press.




#Spinoza #Pantheism #Philosophy


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 17
Satan in Sufism
Iblis (Satan) refused to bow to Adam, and the Qur’an condemns him for it. But some of the most daring Sufi mystics read that refusal very differently: as the act of a perfect monotheist and a tragic lover who would not bow to anything but God, even at the cost of eternal separati ... Show More
37m 25s
Oct 10
Anqa - Arabic Folklore's Most Elusive Creature
What is the Anqa? In this episode we explore the Anqa (عنقاء), the elusive, legendary bird of Arabic and Islamic tradition, often compared to the phoenix and the Persian Simurgh. We look at its origins in pre-Islamic Arabian lore, the story of how it vanished from the world, and ... Show More
31m 30s
Oct 4
Alchemy in the Islamic World
In this episode, we explore the fascinating history of alchemy in the Islamic(ate) world, from the writings of Jabir ibn Hayyan, to the Emerald Tablet, Abu Bakr al-Razi & the Sufis. Music by: Filip Holm Find me and my music here: https://linktr.ee/filipholm Support Let's Talk Rel ... Show More
43m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2014
Episode #033 ... Spinoza pt. 1 - From Baruch to Benedicto
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Baruch De Spinoza. We find out why it was not only life-threatening to have an unpopular opinion during the time Spinoza lived, but also potentially very profitable. We also question whether religion is really to blame for the violen ... Show More
26m 53s
Sep 2014
Episode #034 ... Spinoza pt. 2 - Force of Nature
On this episode of the podcast, we continue learning about Spinoza, this time focusing on his concept of God. We begin by asking ourselves whether or not Stephen’s English bulldog Charlie is part of God, and analyzing the implications of our answer. Next, we discuss the concept o ... Show More
27m 24s
Jan 2024
83: Baruch Spinoza’s Geometric Faith
In the tradition of the great theistic philosophers, Baruch Spinoza presents us with a metaphysical vision of the cosmos, as ordered by God. But in sharp contrast with thinkers such as Pascal, Spinoza's arguments for God are crafted with an attempt of logical precision. In fact, ... Show More
1h 46m
Jun 2017
Episode 166: Spinoza on Politics and Religion (Part Two)
<p>Concluding on the <em>Tractatus Theologico-Politicus</em> (1670) and <em>Tractatus Politicus</em> (1677). What's the relationship between ethics, reason, and revelation? What could "faith" possibly mean to a hard-core rationalist like Spinoza? Is it possible to buy into the no ... Show More
1h 34m
Aug 2010
PREMIUM-Episode 24: Spinoza on God and Metaphysics
Discussing Spinoza's Ethics (1677), books 1 and 2. 
31m 39s
Jan 2025
The Nature of All Things: Spinoza's Philosophical Odyssey
Professor of philosophy Colin Bodayle joins Breht to dive into the profound, unique, and almost mystical philosophy of Baruch Spinoza. Together, they discuss the value of philosophy for all of us, Spinoza as a "philosopher's philosopher", his life and death in 17th century wester ... Show More
2h 43m
Sep 2010
PREMIUM-Episode 25: Spinoza on Human Nature
Discussing Spinoza's the Ethics, Books II through V. 
31m 58s
Nov 2020
Steven Nadler on Spinoza on Death
Baruch Spinoza was perhaps most famous for his equation of God with Nature - a view that his contemporaries, probably correctly, took to be atheist. But what did he think about death? Steven Nadler, author of A Book Forged in Hell and Think Least of Death, discusses this aspect o ... Show More
19m 59s
Jul 2021
18 | Spinoza: Necessity, Ethics, Joy
<p>In this episode we finally get around to talking about Spinoza. It turns out normativity is kind of complicated when you think everything is strictly determined and there’s no such thing as contingency! We discuss the relationship between affect and power, the inherently socia ... Show More
1h 13m