Spinoza

Originally posted by Starrman
That's a precursor of human perception, I think, and (time for some more Bad Zen© ) unfortunately also a barrier to enlightenment. When you can perceive that which you are instead of that which you perceive, you're a step closer.

When you can perceive that which you are instead of that which you perceive, you're a step closer.

A koan! Bam! I like it!

Originally posted by vistesd
[b]When you can perceive that which you are instead of that which you perceive, you're a step closer.

A koan! Bam! I like it![/b]

Koan, bam, thank you mam. Bad Zen© has a future in small book sales to the self help market...

Originally posted by Starrman
Koan, bam, thank you mam. Bad Zen© has a future in small book sales to the self help market...

Are you going to feed your son spinoza so he grows big and strong?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Are you going to feed your son spinoza so he grows big and strong?

Certainly not, he shall be nourished on a diet of Quine, Kripke, Carnap and Davidson, with a side serving of Hume and Sturgeon.

Originally posted by Starrman
Certainly not, he shall be nourished on a diet of Quine, Kripke, Carnap and Davidson, with a side serving of Hume and Sturgeon.

And your daughters?

Originally posted by dottewell
Might not be here for this one, but if you're discussing Spinoza's pantheism in the Ethics, don't forget the appendix!

And don't forget the Theological-Political Treatise, where you get the clearest statement of Spinoza's naturalism.

Originally posted by bbarr
Theological-Political Treatise.

Never read it, but I'm reliably informed it's a real page-turner with an unbelievable twist at the end.

Unless I'm confusing it with something by John Grisham.

Is Spinoza worth bothering with?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is Spinoza worth bothering with?

It wasn't meant to be a rhetorical question.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
It wasn't meant to be a rhetorical question.

Depends what you're after. If you want to know if his philosophy is enlightening in some fashion, I'd have to say no (though I've only read the Ethics), personally he bores me to tears and I disagree with most of his premises and conclusions.

However, if you're looking for an different view from the Cartesian style of things and you want to look at the different opinions in that time, then sure, he's worth a read.

Originally posted by sonhouse
And your daughters?

If I ever have any they will get exactly the same education, including the philosophies of Gavaskar, Bradman and Warne.

Originally posted by Starrman
Depends what you're after. If you want to know if his philosophy is enlightening in some fashion, I'd have to say no (though I've only read the Ethics), personally he bores me to tears and I disagree with most of his premises and conclusions.

Well, since you started this thread and all, you could say why you disagree with his premises, to begin with.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Well, since you started this thread and all, you could say why you disagree with his premises, to begin with.

If I'm going to do that, not only am I going to be doing the assignment I have to hand in twice, but I'm guessing that I'll be on my own in the refutation process 🙂

Originally posted by Starrman
If I'm going to do that, not only am I going to be doing the assignment I have to hand in twice, but I'm guessing that I'll be on my own in the refutation process 🙂

Try refuting just one then. I'm curious to see your approach.

(I treat all philosophy as a species of fiction, so I am not in the business of proof or refutation, but it's instructive to see how those who are go about their business.)

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is Spinoza worth bothering with?

Yes.