Stephen West doceert gepassioneerd over Spinoza

Onder "lees verder" geef ik iets meer info over de spreker Stephen West (misschien handig dat al aan te klikken alvorens de poscast te starten), maar eerst haal ik zijn praatjes over Spinoza dit blog binnen:

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 violent acts that are committed on its behalf, and find out why Spinoza was exiled from his community and forced to live a life of solitude. Finally, we read excerpts from Spinoza’s correspondence with his ex-friend Albert Burgh regarding Christianity and find out whose arguments hold the most water (spoiler alert: Spinoza wins). All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!

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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 of “substance” and what Spinoza thought the only one true substance was (hint: it’s not water). Finally, we consider how Spinoza’s concept of God/Nature impacts his thoughts on free will and why he would say Stephen has no choice but to imitate a drunk person singing “I Love Rock and Roll” every time he drives past that certain billboard. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!

 

     

Wie is deze Stephen West die zo gepassioneerd over Spinoza podcast? En eerder over Descartes en Pascal. Deze laatste twee causerieën over Spinoza zijn al de nummers 33 en 34 in een lange rij podcasts {Cf.]. Als ik probeer iets meer over deze 'docent' te weten te komen, kom ik zijn twitteracount tegen en een stuk van hem op Huffingtonpost – ik lees enthousiaste uitspraken op een website waar podcasts gereviewd  kunnen worden, zoals “Stephen West is a great teacher and his passion for philosophy is always present.”

Elders wordt Stephen West “a brand new type of homo philosophicus” genoemd en lezen we iets meer over hem als:

"Stephen West, host of the newer Philosophize This! podcast [iTunes - Web - RSS - Libsyn), doesn't move among intellectual professionals. He never even took a philosophy course himself, with an astute professor or without one. Yet he can teach you about philosophy with greater clarity and engagement than most podcasters can muster even about their favorite television shows. [...]

And lest you doubt the un-degree'd West's qualifications, do read his brief autobiography*), which tells the story of how he rose from the worst childhood I've read about in quite some time, guided during his all-day shifts driving a pallet jack by the great philosophers: "Hume, Kant, Hegel — these men were my fathers. They were the people who made me ask questions and strive to constantly improve myself." You might place West in the tradition, now somewhat withered, of the robust "blue-collar" thinking man, drawing his needed strength from ideas. But given the way he's harnessed our era's technology to become a philosophy teacher to thousands — hundreds of whom have left five-star reviews on iTunes, leading to an astonishing #32 ranking in its Top 100 podcast chart — I'd say he embodies a brand new type of homo philosophicus altogether."  [Cf.]

*) Er was een link naar die 'autobiography',maar die is daar niet (meer)  te vinden.    

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En zoe doet hij de hele 'history of philosophy'!

Ik sta verbluft over zo'n 'praatje' over Spinoza. Hij maakt ons en alle dingen in het tweede deel iets te veel "part of God", legt Spinoza iets te pantheïstisch uit, maar voor de rest... hoedje af.