SPINOZA: GOD, NATURE & THE SECRET OF HUMAN FREEDOM

SPINOZA: GOD, NATURE & THE SECRET OF HUMAN FREEDOM Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) remains one of the most daring thinkers in the history of philosophy. His central proposition was revolutionary: there are not two separate realities — God and the world. There is ultimately one infinite reality, which Spinoza calls God or Nature — *Deus sive Natura*. Everything that exists — human beings, animals, thoughts, bodies, planets and the entire universe — exists within this single reality. But this raises a disturbing question. If everything follows necessarily from the nature of reality, are human beings actually free? Spinoza argues that we commonly imagine ourselves to possess free will because we are conscious of our desires but ignorant of the causes that produce them. Yet surprisingly, Spinoza does not conclude that human freedom is impossible. Instead, he radically redefines freedom. Freedom is not escaping causality. It is understanding necessity. The more we understand ourselves, our emotions and the causes governing us, the less we become passive victims of our passions and the more capable we become of acting through reason. We will also explore Spinoza's concept of conatus — the fundamental striving of every being to persevere and enhance its existence — and his remarkable analysis of desire, joy, sadness, love, hatred and human bondage. Finally, we will examine Spinoza's highest form of human flourishing: the intellectual love of God, and ask whether his philosophy ultimately offers us something resembling salvation — but without a supernatural heaven, divine judgement or personal creator. During the evening we will explore: • God or Nature — *Deus sive Natura* • Why Spinoza rejected the traditional personal God • Substance, attributes and modes • Why everything happens necessarily • Spinoza's rejection of traditional free will • Conatus — the striving to persevere • Desire, emotions and the passions • Human bondage versus human freedom • Why understanding ourselves can make us freer • The intellectual love of God • Spinoza's influence on Nietzsche and later philosophy No previous knowledge of Spinoza or philosophy is required. The evening will be accessible to newcomers while giving those already familiar with Spinoza plenty to discuss. As always, the lecture will be followed by an open discussion and debate. Come prepared to question one of our deepest assumptions: that we could have chosen differently.