Episode 19 – Expert Opinion: Steven Nadler on Spinoza’s ‘book forged in hell” and the right to “think what you like and say what you think”

Summary: With me on this episode to explore Baruch Spinoza’s ideas on freedom of thought and expression is philosophy professor and Spinoza expert Steven Nadler. Author of “Spinoza: A Life” and “A Book Forged in Hell: Spinoza’s Scandalous Treatise and the Birth of the Secular Age.” In the episode we discuss issues including: - Why Spinoza’s ideas of religion shocked and outraged just about everyone - Why Spinoza thought social peace depends on freedom of thought and expression