Single Idea 7832

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / g. Controlling emotions]

Full Idea

Spinoza says the only way to overcome emotions is with higher emotions, thus distinguishing himself from the Stoics, who argued that the only thing to do with the surly crowd of human emotions is to have them all shot.

Gist of Idea

Stoics want to suppress emotions, but Spinoza overcomes them with higher emotions

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]) by Matthew Stewart - The Courtier and the Heretic Ch.10

Book Reference

Stewart,Matthew: 'The Courtier and the Heretic' [Yale 2007], p.177


A Reaction

The modern view would certainly be that the Stoics were responsible for massive problems in European civilization (thought the Buddhist have similar views). Emotions are now seen as integral even to very pure reasoning.