The Art of Caring Less - The Philosophy of Baruch Spinoza

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In this video, we explore the life and philosophy of one of the most consequential thinkers of the early modern period, Baruch Spinoza.
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[@PursuitofWonder]

As always, thank you for watching. Get 1 free week and 25% off a premium membership to this video's sponsor, Blinkist using: www.blinkist.com/pursuitofwonder

[@andyc9902]

Can you give first 100 sign up free? Please

[@aaronsopiniontv]

Beautiful video as always! By the way I sent you a DM via Instagram regarding to a previous video that you uploaded. If you would like you may connect with me on Instagram. Thank you.

[@magyararon6918]

Fix your microphone please. You are like 40% louder in my left ear. Just set your microphone to mono, there is no value of having stereo when you record speech.

[@DrSlipperyFist]

I don't know if it's a whole team, or just a guy making these, but great job.

[@wanderingfido]

But because I'm trying to care less, I won't be bothering with money- draining subscriptions. 🤭Especially since I've been laid off for two years now and haven't yet won the lotto. Because that's the only financial status that would allow frivolous expenses such as these. 🤷‍♂️

[@MrZoomZone]

"while ruled by emotion one can chose the wrong path while still knowing the right path." Wisdom.

[@lookintopsilocybin]

Is there a "the" right and a "the" wrong path though? Or is there just "the path" with all its ups and downs and the choices we make, sometimes on the basis of knowlegde, sometimes on the basis of if it feels right (maybe it's the two combined and alligned that defines understanding?) that turn out to work or not to work, wich produces information that can be used the next time we wander over the same stretch of "the path" or the universe produces the same challenge on another stretch to test if we've learned from our past experiences? To say there is a right and a wrong path suggests that there is a right and a wrong destination at the end of both. I like to think that "the path" is the destination, atleast for the time that we are given to spend here, or anywhere else for that matter (different galaxy, universe, dimension...... same path). So you could say i'm advocating that there is a right and a wrong way to travel the path, but that's not necessarily true, because to be able to determine what is the right path for you, you'll need to know, atleast to some degree, what's the wrong path for you. Therefore the wrong path becomes simultaniously the right path if you learn from it along the way. If you wouldn't have encountered it, there would just be a long, boring and meaningless (neutral) path. It might be the right path, but you probably wouldn't know it because it wouldn't have been defined a such...................Okay, it's been nice talking to you, i'll see myself out 🙃

[@GChevy410]

@@lookintopsilocybin so Hitler’s genocide is right so long as he learned something from it?

[@sisyphus_strives5463]

@@lookintopsilocybin I don't think that is the usage of path that is being mentioned here; although you aren't incorrect in that there aren't necessarily any good or bad paths, just paths. The paths here though refer to specific choices, and if one has a clearly defined goals those choices can be right, in that they assist towards that goal expediently or wrong in that they deter you from your goal or prevent it from being ever possible to achieve.

[@sisyphus_strives5463]

​@@lookintopsilocybin But I suppose you can look at everything deterministically and say that things could not have gone any other way, but free will hasn't been proven or dis-proven.

[@_dracoez345]

@@lookintopsilocybin no there are choices you make. You are justifying mediocrity

[@Ray-of-Hope720]

" The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free " -- Baruch Spinoza

[@KalkiComplex]

Well I've realised, knowing never sets you free, it only makes you aware of the boundaries you live in, there is no freedom to begin with in anything, because the sole reason "you" "i" exists is because we are bound, bound to gravity, similarly everything that exists will forever be bound to the laws and rules that birthed it. Boundaries is what gives something existence, if things were to be free nothing would exist.

[@emmanuelweinman9673]

To be free away from or with everyone?

[@samsg]

Not everything in the universe will ever be understood by any human.

[@Roger_Ramjet]

@Black Lesbian Poet whatever u say

[@jerrodlopes186]

Understanding cannot be the ultimate factor in freedom because it requires contentment with whatever is reality. Freedom is the absence of duality. Freedom is seeing all actions as necessary means to the end.

[@Soupy_loopy]

He changed the world by explaining that nothing can change the world...

[@Token07]

@@things_leftunsaid Like the Demiurge?

[@petermanley7525]

@@things_leftunsaid Which god? Apparently their have been 8,000 to 12,000 ‘gods’ living in the sky throughout history...

[@lesleyhubble2976]

@@petermanley7525 must be very crowded up there

[@luisfelix7989]

Dude,, he didn't change anything. Ruling religious entities and other sects existed and continue to exist.

[@Gods_messenger_Elijah]

Just another atheist nihilist pushing destructive philosophy. And you all fell for it. Satan fools you all so easily, time after time.

[@thatonetangirl]

This is it. THIS is what I've been looking for. I knew I wasn't alone, I just couldn't find what it was that described these feelings and thoughts. Thank you so much POW, I have been watching your content for years and today, this video, has made me feel seen and heard for the first time in years.

[@black.sasuke.uchiha]

Is POW an acronym? haha

[@tamn9446]

It’s wild to know the truth is out there that you know intuitively and now you’ve found a video for it.

[@iglitoci8895]

I can relate to this .years now I’ve seen the world in a much different perspective than other people thinking I was the only one who had these thoughts. Watching this video from a man in the 1600’s having almost the exact same thoughts made me feel a little bit special

[@tektrixter]

You may want to look into Pantheism.

[@vwr32jeep]

Wait until you discover exurb1a

[@maryama.6573]

“I discovered for myself and by myself that there is no self to realize - - that’s the realization I am talking about. It comes as a shattering blow. It hits you like a thunderbolt.” - U.G. Krishnamurti

[@ga4701]

i love how pursuit of wonder is always able to create education in a form of art encapsulating the exact nuances to create a beautiful video.

[@tonisumblin2719]

I love how you articulated this. ❤

[@jeffjones3040]

It is definitely crucial to not be concerned by nonsense. However, there is such a fine line between being concerned ENOUGH to keep trouble and problems at bay, and being carefree enough to really enjoy that time that you are out of trouble and NOT having to deal with B.S. problems. Simplifying your life is the best way to achieve a happy and less worrying life.

[@laliberte998]

Spinoza's work shines brightest when he touches on the emotions. It's a masterpiece!

[@louisgutierrez4294]

I am going through a lot of emotional turmoil but thank you this video helped me put it a bit more into perspective thank you your videos always help me when I’m at my lowest points

[@johnleebass]

💫🙏

[@shanebailey9128]

I sincerely hope that at some point in your journey, you discover the amazing wonder that is Punctuation!🙏🏻

[@audrabillet]

If anyone is interested in more modern writings that are very similar (but much easier to read), Michael Singer is awesome. "The Untethered Soul" was a great modern reminder of some of the wonderful things that I had learned in my philosophical studies.

[@baylorlopez4495]

this was a super good book

[@Unknown-gf6mk]

Thank you for that.

[@sonercetin7568]

Exactly. That is my favourite book. I have read it many times over.

[@cellermom]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@hephaestus5365]

Thanks for sharing mate

[@Kairogue13]

Baruch Spinozas work is so underrated

[@kw5961]

His ideas can radically change your life.

[@monocle8868]

@@things_leftunsaid But who needs to be loved by jealous hearted, blood thirsty and narcissistic God?

[@bitkurd]

@@things_leftunsaid Yeah you are free to decide. Your brain will take action and filters out the rest 😅

[@townley1017]

@@kw5961unfortunately though, for me it has changed my life in that I constantly get annoyed at the point made at the end part of this video. Using Spinozas understanding to believe that you will somehow bridge over into understanding of understanding shows that you do not have an understanding of the understanding. It is a paradox. You can’t ever be certain and give yourself kudos to the freedom you enjoy, as with the infinitely complexity, you are just hoping your understanding is ♾️+1.

[@treyboyett4917]

This is exactly what I've always believed, but struggled to articulate

[@Wong-Jack-Man]

Spinoza was the philosopher that I resonated with the most when I was in college over 20yrs ago. Later when I came to realize that spinoza’s God and the eastern Taoism is very similar. He contextualized it with western rationalism where Lao Tzu did so with with eastern thought but conceptually I found it almost identical.

[@uvinwalpola2234]

I find it very similar to the real buddhism

[@bitkurd]

@@uvinwalpola2234 buddhism is very passive and miserable. Imagine constantly running away from life just because it’s painful to live. Have courage and live they way you would desire. Don’t take it too seriously it’s all a show.

[@saritasinha4721]

​@@bitkurdmediocre comment.

[@nadiamonzur9436]

The way such intricate thoughts are articulated in these videos blows my mind every time.. This is truly an exceptional learning experience that leaves the mind and heart numb yet peaceful... Thank you.

[@tonylocke1214]

Spinoza’s theorem is undoubtedly an exquisite example of idealistic nirvana. Sadly, none of us has ever been able to overcome the ultimate, and most important choice in life, that we can, or could ever make, with regard to the path our lives could take. That being, which vagina we get to crawl out of, as our introduction to life. Ultimately, little else matters. The notion of “free will”, is most generally attributed to, and by, the most fortunate. Very few wealthy people regard themselves as “fortunate”, let alone “lucky”. Unfortunately for most of us, and fortunately for the “well born” minority, life is, to a large extent, predetermined. Of course, there will always be outliers, in both directions. And of course, there will always be those ‘worse off’ than most of us. But is that enough to aspire to? Knowing that there are others, even more desperate, should be a cause for shame. Not a cause for comfort.

[@reinasanchez1718]

My sentiments exactly

[@nutbastard]

Obviously there's no hard evidence, but there are some cases of children claiming that they did in fact choose who their parents would be. It's all anecdotal, but given that the nature of reality (I don't mean physics) is entirely unknown, one possibility isn't really any more absurd than any other. Could be that this is a simulation. Could be that this is the most important thing to ever happen. Could be what extradimensional beings get into when they have a few billion years to kill on the weekend.

[@sverkerolausson2252]

I love this comment!

[@wuziwu8148]

“A puppet is free as long as he loves his strings.” -Sam Harris

[@jeffsadowski7759]

Easy for a man to say who's pulling his own strings and enjoys where he is:)

[@wuziwu8148]

@@jeffsadowski7759 first we must accept our limits to go beyond them. Once we become aware of a string (sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc) you will certainly influence your subconscious (free will). Sam Harris is an American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and podcast host. His work touches on a wide range of topics, including rationality, religion, ethics, free will, neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, philosophy of mind, politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence.

[@wuziwu8148]

Ignorance is bliss Knowledge is power

[@jamiewilliams8107]

When you care less abundance flows better

[@AGenerationJones]

“To understand is to be free.”

[@DifferenceInThought]

One of the best channels on different philosophies! An absolute gem!

[@Brian-nt1hh]

Simplicity to being peaceful and individually useful

[@cmfrtblynmb02]

Thank you for putting the criticism of his ideas too. It is important to know blind spots of any work

[@janicestevenson6496]

"The power of Knowledge will extend itself from you who are receiving Knowledge... As you continue to develop and apply yourself, the power of Knowledge will become stronger and stronger... It will influence all. That is why you must learn to be very discerning in relationships, for as you progress as a student of Knowledge, your influence over others will be greater. You must not use this influence for selfish purposes, or your activities will be destructive to you and to others... If you are ambitious with Knowledge, you will pose very great risks to yourself and to other people, for wisdom, compassion, restraint and self-control must accompany the development of Knowledge. If you attempt to use Knowledge for your own selfish gains or for what you think the world needs, you will lead yourself astray and Knowledge will not accompany you. Accept this restraint and development that are called for now... They will guarantee the wholeness and worthiness of your contributions..." (Marshall Vian Summers, Steps to Knowledge) Becoming aware of our place in the greater whole (Spinoza's reference to understanding) both constrains us and frees us to do what we must do to contribute to a world that needs our unique gifts.

[@johnchapman5125]

Thanks a lot!

[@michaelmeacham1084]

Not sure if this is poppycock or balderdash

[@geoffreypiltz271]

Freedom is learning to stop thinking and simply experience. Thought is what chains us (and Spinoza).

[@metsrus]

I've always felt existence is some kind of paradox. Logic and reasoning will only get you so far until they break down.

[@zachhi89]

Like classical physics vs quantum physics

[@QuasarRedshift]

just loved this - I wish everyone would see this video and learn more about Spinoza - would help people as individuals and as a society . . . 😍

[@achatinaslak742]

What an amazing an wise man, he was far ahead of his time and one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Thanks a lot for this interesting upload.

[@geraldhoffmeier9958]

your channel is just a piece of art - with your kind of expression of these beautiful topics you are touching my soul!

[@Fear_Therapy]

Thank you for sharing this and letting us realize that we are not alone. ❤

[@GeertMeertens]

If there is nothing but God, as Spinoza stated, who else is there?

[@miguelisip8122]

Thanks for this mind shattering and educational piece

[@myaunteffy1440]

I needed this today. Thank you

[@morenofranco9235]

Thank you for this mind opening presentation. Awesome.

[@BigElectricCat]

If nothing can change the world, then why am I even taking the time to listen to this? Nothing matters

[@safaanhairy]

I am amazed at how Spinoza's philosophy is so similar to yogism and mystism, which he may not have encountered back then. If we learn to listen, the answer will most certainly be one.

[@tvm73836]

You are spot on. Very specifically he seems to have been influenced by Advaita Vedanta which is over 5000 years old and Buddhism.

[@didyouhearthat4794]

That a fantastic video. As a fan of Spinoza, you synthesized the Spinoza thinking very well. Congratulations

[@amusicment4829]

Thank you, terrific presentation on the brilliant Spinoza.

[@williebrooks2982]

Great presentation, inlighting, educational ! Many Thanks!🎈🎈

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

nice one, there are some very frustrating philosophy channels on YT, but this is a gem on Spinoza

[@feeksion]

Be strong. You got this my friend!

[@etashelinto8253]

Your work is therapeutic. Thanks!

[@passionfly1]

Such a beautiful video! ❤

[@Sllee93]

The moment I saw the title, it resonated my whole heart, my entire being ❤

[@aditidharwadkar1749]

"so much so, that he is often compelled, while seeing that which is better for him, to follow which is worse" -felt this one ,small steps but one day hopefully I can follow what I actually know I should : )

[@reggiegarcia07]

Always love your videos, thank you for the incredible content

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

I've always said to everyone around me that I'm an atheist. Today, I realized I believed in Spinoza's God all along!!

[@DanteMoonshine]

how bout you believe in the goal and manifest getting some bitches.

[@grandemperorputin5992]

It’s another way of saying that you believe in God. 🤚🏻

[@RocBrew]

Lol sounds like you were Agnostic instead of Atheist

[@Ynalaw]

Banana

[@EMPANAO321]

@@Ynalaw meow

[@jeffxanders3990]

Totally agree. Knowledge goes to understanding for those who're worthy of themselves. Understanding is faith that's no longer blind (or deaf). In the dream of life, all is illusory. There is no causality, but only us. All is one and it's you. Understanding is what we're here for... or not. At any rate, the Source knows It can't fail because all exists by Its own nature. The unified field is the Mind Itself. What's understood in the future is also understood in the past. Everything is here in us and reflected "outside" of us.

[@HalaluYAHEVER]

Absolutely indeed!! Thanks for sharing!!💯👍

[@user-xd5js4wb4d]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I wish Spinoza could see this!

[@auntylinda7640]

Thank u so much for this...... I had not heard of Spinoza before xxx

[@gottasay4766]

I have a new obsession. Love this.

[@Nitephall]

Excellent video mate. Very well done, thanks for this 🤘

[@al_parlam]

very beautiful video, super inspiring. thank you for covering ideas of a genius in a such approachable way.

[@sylviaschuller4660]

Thank you for this video.💎

[@brianb4877]

Great job with the newsletter btw!

[@JakeWolven]

I cherish your videos. Thank you

[@somethingyousaid5059]

The deeper the insight the closer the suicide, that's all. That is to say, the more I understand the more terrified I become. And that reminds me, I have an appointment with my psychotherapist this afternoon.

[@bossgd100]

😂 good luck have fun

[@vettie]

This is a common phase in truth-seeking. With the loss of illusion, so comes the attack on ego as well. Keep enduring. This too shall pass.

[@da4mula885]

I always see the journey like this: Naively positive -> naively negative -> realistically negative -> realistically positive

[@somethingyousaid5059]

@@bossgd100 Embarrassed myself a couple of times. Even so, it was pretty good session.

[@bossgd100]

@@somethingyousaid5059 Embarrassement is in your head , namaste

[@vada7259]

Thanks for the reintroduction to Spinoza

[@user76239]

Looking forward to seeing you on the next video

[@charlespratt8663]

I couldn't care less. Who knew I had reached that level of enlightenment.

[@Skillseboy1]

The belief and perception of everything, including ourselves, being part of a universal whole, is one of the most universally held beliefs across all religions, and it's a terrible pity that this beautiful outlook on life and the universe is largely forgotten by the common man.

[@bitkurd]

It’s true but in some sense, it feels like communism. Express your unique self, everything is a comedy show lol

[@bette-annlibin457]

Thank you!

[@willia451]

Spinoza strikes me as a man looking for peace and validation outside of a societal structure and a family that had rejected him. I like to think he found at least some of that. I hope so. As far as what his philosophy means to the rest of us? Some are still talking about it 400 years later. So it must have triggered somebody.

[@krsada]

Absolutely superb

[@fernandoorozco5968]

Love the philosophy of Brauch Spinoza

[@Flowing23]

Excellent thank you

[@RocBrew]

❤️‍🔥😊 Great timing Mr. Spinoza

[@GoddessStone]

That was gorgeous...thank you

[@nunyabinnus]

thanx 4 posting

[@arthurwieczorek4894]

The truth shall set you free...from false prophets....

[@ilikemyrealname]

Whether or not we have free will is irrelevant when you consider that life rewards/punishes as if everything is your choice.

[@tzzeek]

Wow This is amazing, i feel so free now.

[@Jasonndior]

Love this video

[@MaDmanex100]

Never heard of this man before. Thanks for enlightening me of such a geyser of wisdom.

[@palvonbekatabayev8968]

Well done.

[@Lordofwarz]

Spinoza is so ahead of time

[@mlg1279]

These ideas were first discussed in the Upanishads. So, Spinoza is definitely not "ahead of time"

[@grandemperorputin5992]

I ❤ this channel. Thank you.

[@shashidharshettar3846]

Thanks I learnt a lot

[@nancyhanscom1374]

I could listen to this voice say the alphabet all day. Great job 🎉🎉

[@gamerrex5940]

Oh yes, my weekly existential crisis. Thanks for the video.

[@Itsant33]

I have always been enamored by causality and it's paradoxical ties with free will, since I learned about it in college. It's such a great way to explain nature

[@marcob4630]

A truly brillant lesson indeed! Nature is God and God is the Nature: "Deus sive natura" !

[@DJGive420]

This is one of your best videos. Thank you🙏🙏➰🕳️

[@jaibharat8697]

Thanks for new thoughts sharing 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👍

[@sahilhotchandani3668]

♥️this is timeless

[@The_Handler867]

KZbin’s most underrated channel

[@MM-yi9zn]

Was a brave & astonishingly intelligent man way ahead of his time. A real thinker!

[@richardcamacho7276]

A finite mind cannot adequately describe the infinite. We will all meet our Maker. This guy is no exception.

“La debilidad humana para moderar y controlar las emociones la llamo servidumbre: porque, cuando un hombre es presa de sus emociones, no es dueño de sí mismo, sino que está a merced de la fortuna: tanto es así, que a menudo se ve obligado, mientras ve lo que es mejor para él, para seguir lo que es peor.” Esta reflexión vale muchísimo.

[@liamiliffe7153]

I've researched a fair amount now into determinism, stoicism and how our perception of freewill is just that, and it really feels like in the last year that everything is coming together. Trying to understand these concepts can be tricky and definitely mind-blowing, a reason to love this channel, it's massively inspiring and freeing, thanks for yet another amazing video :)

[@boobalooba5786]

Free will is not a "perception" but a fact. Pain proves that free will exists, if everything were just cause and effect pain would die off as it would not serve a function in determining whether or not a chosen action could or would occur, as pain is local and subjective and not uniform. Also pain is unknown until experienced, if all were cause and effect then the amount of pain would be known beforehand. We indulge in pain just as we indulge in pleasure, if all were cause and effect then pleasure would be optimal and thus would be all that exists.

[@decsterrobles8421]

@@boobalooba5786 experiencing pain causes us to act in different ways and so I think the experience of pain is still part of cause and effect and not a proof that free will exist

Beautiful.

[@dmitriyvasilyev6408]

Some people on KZbin do make me feel less alone

[@nutbastard]

Hey Mitya, we're all in this together!

[@andrzejmaranda3699]

Pursuit of Wonder: that's a VERY INTERESTING video!

[@jimmytheexpat5719]

very interensting

[@MegaSnail1]

Spinoza and Einstein point to the value of striving to understand how things work. This pursuit is truly satisfying and utilitarian. We all need to keep learning with an open mind while not throwing out the baby with the bath water. Be well and thank you.

[@luisasterioquerubin6829]

Understanding is to be free is q good saying.

[@BrianKellyism]

This is good. This channel is good. Well done. Profound and interesting

[@shweepa2061]

It takes caring more to eventually care less

[@petersuvara]

Glad there is more out there about the incredibly forward thinking of Spinoza and is definition of god in pantheism/panentheism.

[@arthurwieczorek4894]

All these benefits of understanding of which Spinoza speaks, they can be taken in two ways. As absolutes, just as he states OR as 'These things will come to you as circumstances allow, to the extent circumstances allow. Circumstances being external and internal.'

[@miguelangelous]

Finally made it to Spinoza!!! 🙌🏼❤️‍🔥🔥

[@albertclarke2826]

A man so far ahead of his time that his time has yet to arrive.