Spinoza and the Stoics

Spinoza and the Stoics is a course designed for those interested in Spinoza’s core philosophical themes and how they relate to traditional Stoic philosophy. 

Albert Einstein once remarked that he believed in “Spinoza’s God, who reveals himself in the lawful harmony of all that exists”—a description that sounds strikingly similar to the Stoic view of divinity.

Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) was a prominent Dutch philosopher whose writings share remarkable parallels with traditional Stoicism. Students in this course will analyze both the similarities and key differences between his work and Stoic thought.

Prerequisite: Stoic Essential Studies 

This is an eleven (11) week mentored course. Admission is on a rolling basis. Students may start at any time.

Required Materials

• Podcast: History of Philosophy Audio Archive (William Engels) Episode #105 – “The Philosophy of Baruch Spinoza: J. Thomas Cook on Pantheism, the Geometric Method, and Life as a Jewish Heretic.”
  • Episode link on Apple
  • Episode link on Spotify
• Book: Spinoza and the Stoics by Jon Miller
  • Book link on Amazon
• Suggested (Optional) Reading Materials: Ethics and On the Improvement of the Understanding by Baruch Spinoza

Assignments

Assignments include self-paced quizzes, short reflective writings, and similar activities, which are generally due at the end of each two week unit. Thought and contemplation are part of the learning process. Your mentor can work with you if deadlines are difficult to meet.

Your Mentor

Your mentor will help you achieve the goal of becoming knowledgeable about Spinoza’s core philosophical themes and how they relate to traditional Stoic philosophy. He or she will do this by guiding, correcting, encouraging, and affirming your progress. Specific goals that you may have will also be carefully considered. You will have Zoom meetings with your mentor at the beginning and end of your studies, and have opportunities to communicate through Moodle or email at any time.

How to Apply

This course is open only to graduates of Stoic Essential Studies (SES). If you have not yet taken SES, then you can apply here.

If you qualify and are ready to apply, the tuition fee is US $120. Please use the application form below.

The College accepts students without regard to gender, race, religion, or nationality, provided the student is at least 18 years of age, and has met our other admission criteria.

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By checking this box, I affirm my understanding that this course is designed to be completed in approximately eleven (11) weeks. I also understand that the College reserves the right to de-register students who have neither participated in the course nor contacted their Mentor for 30 days or more. In the event of de-registration, I understand that I am not entitled to a tuition refund.

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In the event that I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in my studies, I agree that such use will be restricted to technical assistance only, such as brainstorming, language and grammar correction, translating, etc., and will not be used as a substitute for my actual writing.

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Course: Spinoza and the Stoics

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