{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 19 \u2013 Expert Opinion: Steven Nadler on Spinoza\u2019s \u2018book forged in hell\u201d and the right to \u201cthink what you like and say what you think\u201d","description":"Baruch Spinoza (also known as Benedict de Spinoza) was born in Amsterdam in 1632. While his given name means \u201cblessing\u201d in both Hebrew and Latin, Spinoza\u2019s \u201cTheological-political treatise\u201d from 1670 was condemned as \u201ca book forged in hell.\u201d Spinoza himself was denounced as a dangerous heretic or atheist by religious and secular rulers alike, and was pilloried in the court of public opinion. Spinoza\u2019s apparent crime consisted in systematically eroding the foundation of revealed religion and the authority of the Bible. But in addition to his materialist philosophy, Spinoza championed freedom of thought and expression as the precondition for social peace in a free democratic state. According to Spinoza, \u201cThe most tyrannical governments are those which make crimes of opinions, for everyone has an inalienable right over his thoughts\u201d and therefore, \u201cIn a free state every man may think what he likes, and say what he thinks.\u201d These were radical ideas in early modern Europe and too much to stomach for even the tolerant Dutch. With me on this episode of Clear and Present Danger to explore Spinoza\u2019s ideas on freedom of thought and expression is University of Wisconsin-Madison philosophy professor and Spinoza expert Steven Nadler. Nadler is the  author of \u201cSpinoza: A Life\u201d and \u201cA Book Forged in Hell: Spinoza\u2019s Scandalous Treatise and the Birth of the Secular Age.\u201d In the episode we discuss issues including:  Why the Dutch Republic was tolerant and liberal compared to most other states at the time Why Spinoza was excommunicated from the Portuguese-Jewish community of Amsterdam Why Spinoza\u2019s ideas of religion shocked and outraged just about everyone Why Spinoza thought social peace depends on freedom of thought and expression Where Spinoza drew the line when it comes to free speech and religion  Bonus: Professor Nadler on Spinoza in New York Times: \u201cSpinoza\u2019s Vision of Freedom, and Ours\u201d and \u201cJudging Spinoza.\u201d You can subscribe and listen to Clear and Present Danger on  Apple Podcasts,  Google Play, YouTube,  TuneIn and  Stitcher, or download episodes directly from SoundCloud. Stay up to date with Clear and Present Danger on the show\u2019s Facebook and Twitter pages, or visit the podcast\u2019s website at freespeechhistory.com. Email us feedback at freespeechhistory@gmail.com. ","author_name":"Clear and Present Danger - A history of free speech","author_url":"http:\/\/freespeechhistory.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/8119232\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/ff5301\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/56180420"}