This chapter explores the influence of Spinoza on Stoicism and highlights the similarities between his philosophy and Stoic principles. It discusses Spinoza's reading of Stoic texts, his definition of virtue, his view of God and the universe, and his belief in determinism. It also examines his criticism of the Stoics' complete control over emotions and his perspective on the possibility of becoming a Stoic sage.
In this episode, I speak about Stoicism and Buddhism with Matthew Gindin. Matthew is a former Forest Monk in the Thai Buddhist tradition. He taught meditation practices for 15 years, and has written extensively for Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. He is now the author of the Philosophy As Therapy newsletter on Substack.
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Highlights
* How Matthew became interested in Stoicism and his other philosophical influences, such as Spinoza
* The rise in popularity of Stoicism, e.g., how it appeals to people interested in Buddhism, etc.
* What do you think Stoicism and Buddhism have in common?
* The historical relationship between Stoicism and Buddhism, e.g., communication between ancient eastern and western philosophers
* How Stoics could benefit from learning more about Buddhism
Links
* Philosophy As TherapySubstack Newsletter
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