How would you describe your relationship with your emotions?
- I try to control them with willpower, like a good Stoic.
- I let them wash over me and try to understand what they’re telling me.
- I think emotions are just modifications of the body, not separate things.
- I try to avoid emotions as much as possible.
What’s your favorite thing about the idea of a “third kind of knowledge”?
- It’s like a secret society for smart people.
- It sounds like a way to see the world differently and feel more connected to everything.
- It sounds like a way to control everything and everyone.
- It doesn’t really sound that appealing to me.
What makes you nervous about the idea of “intellectual love of God”?
- It sounds like a cult.
- It sounds too abstract and intellectual for me.
- It sounds like a way to be free from the control of passions.
- It sounds like it could be really boring.
How often do you think about your place in the grand scheme of things?
- All the time! It’s the biggest question of life.
- Not really, I’m more focused on the day-to-day.
- I try to understand the universe by looking for patterns in the natural world.
- I try to avoid thinking about it because it makes me anxious.
What do you think you need to achieve true freedom?
- More willpower and self-control.
- More understanding of myself and the world around me.
- More courage to face the challenges of life.
- More money and material possessions.
How prepared are you to deal with negative emotions?
- I have a lot of coping mechanisms.
- I’m not really afraid of them, I try to see them as part of life.
- I tend to avoid dealing with them as long as possible.
- I think negative emotions are a sign of weakness.
What do you dream about when it comes to the idea of eternity?
- A place where I can be reunited with loved ones who have passed away.
- A state of pure being where I am free from suffering and limitations.
- A chance to finally understand the true meaning of life.
- A place where I can finally get some peace and quiet.
How often do you strive to connect with the divine, in whatever form that might take for you?
- Regularly, through meditation or prayer.
- Only when I’m feeling lost or scared.
- I don’t really believe in the divine.
- I think it’s a waste of time to focus on such things.
What’s your favorite memory related to understanding the nature of emotions?
- When I finally realized that my anger was a result of my own insecurities.
- When I learned that emotions are just like the weather, always changing.
- When I felt a deep sense of peace after letting go of a grudge.
- When I realized that emotions are just chemicals in the brain.
What is the most likely to make you feel down about the idea of “intellectual love of God”?
- The thought of having to give up my ego and desires.
- The thought of having to study philosophy and theology.
- The thought of not being able to experience joy and pleasure in the world.
- The thought of not being able to control my emotions.
You’re at a party and someone starts talking about Spinoza’s Ethics. What do you do?
- I chime in with my own opinions on the subject.
- I try to listen attentively and learn something new.
- I politely excuse myself and find someone else to talk to.
- I roll my eyes and change the subject.
How confident are you in your ability to distinguish between adequate ideas and inadequate ideas?
- I think I’m pretty good at it.
- I’m still working on it.
- I don’t really know what those terms mean.
- I don’t think it’s really that important.
What happens if you experience a strong emotion, like anger or fear?
- I try to suppress it and move on.
- I try to understand the root cause of the emotion.
- I let it consume me and act impulsively.
- I try to find a way to channel it into something positive.
How do you handle the feeling of being controlled by your emotions?
- I try to ignore it.
- I try to understand what’s causing it.
- I try to find a way to escape from it.
- I think it’s just a part of being human.
How well do you stick to your convictions when it comes to your ethical principles?
- I’m very principled and I always stick to my beliefs.
- I try to do the right thing, but sometimes I slip up.
- I’m not really sure what my ethical principles are.
- I think it’s okay to bend the rules sometimes.
How would you describe your relationship to the idea of God?
- I’m very religious and believe in a personal God.
- I’m spiritual but not religious.
- I’m agnostic, I’m not sure if God exists or not.
- I’m atheist, I don’t believe in God.
What is your current biggest challenge related to understanding the idea of human freedom?
- Overcoming my own ego and desires.
- Learning how to control my emotions.
- Finding the time to study philosophy and theology.
- Finding a way to make a difference in the world.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “freedom”?
- Being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want.
- Being able to live my life according to my own values.
- Being able to escape from the constraints of society.
- Being able to live in a peaceful and harmonious world.
How do you handle situations where you feel like you’re being controlled by someone else?
- I try to assert my independence and stand up for myself.
- I try to understand the other person’s perspective.
- I try to avoid the situation altogether.
- I accept my fate and go with the flow.
Which of the following is most accurate when it comes to your understanding of the nature of reality?
- I believe in a deterministic universe where everything is predetermined.
- I believe in a universe where free will exists.
- I believe in a universe where both free will and determinism exist.
- I’m not sure what I believe about the nature of reality.
You have a choice between spending a day learning about Spinoza’s philosophy or spending a day pursuing your passions. Which do you choose?
- Learning about Spinoza’s philosophy.
- Pursuing my passions.
- I’d want to do both!
- I’d rather do something else entirely.
How comfortable are you with the idea of surrendering to something bigger than yourself?
- I’m very comfortable with it.
- I’m not really comfortable with it.
- I’m not sure how I feel about it.
- It depends on what that something bigger is.
What’s your idea of a perfect world?
- A world where everyone is happy and free.
- A world where everyone is rational and logical.
- A world where everyone is kind and compassionate.
- A world where everyone is equal and just.
How would you describe your strongest emotion?
- Love
- Joy
- Anger
- Fear
What keeps you up at night about the idea of understanding the universe?
- The fear that I’ll never truly understand it.
- The fear that I’ll discover something horrible about it.
- The fear that I’ll lose my sense of wonder.
- The fear that I’ll be alone in the universe.
Which of these best describes your current state of being?
- I feel free and liberated.
- I feel confused and lost.
- I feel content and at peace.
- I feel stressed and overwhelmed.
Someone asks you how you’re doing in terms of your quest for understanding the meaning of life. What’s the actual answer, not just “I’m good”?
- I’m still searching for answers.
- I’ve made some progress, but I still have a lot to learn.
- I’m not sure if there is a meaning to life.
- I’m not really looking for meaning, I’m just trying to live my life to the fullest.
What’s your go-to podcast or book for understanding philosophy?
- I don’t really listen to podcasts or read philosophy books.
- I like to read the classics, like Plato and Aristotle.
- I prefer more contemporary philosophers, like Nietzsche and Sartre.
- I’m interested in Eastern philosophy, like Buddhism and Taoism.
What aspect of Spinoza’s Ethics makes you the most happy?
- The idea that we can achieve true freedom through understanding.
- The idea that emotions are not inherently bad.
- The idea that God is not a personal being but a force in the universe.
- The idea that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves.
How well do you handle situations where you feel like you’re being judged by others?
- I’m very good at handling it.
- I’m not really good at handling it.
- It depends on who’s judging me.
- I don’t really care what other people think.
How connected do you feel to the idea of “blessedness”?
- I feel very connected to it.
- I don’t really feel connected to it.
- I’m not sure how I feel about it.
- I think it’s a very abstract concept.
I believe that understanding the universe is the key to achieving true happiness.
- I agree with you.
- I disagree with you.
- I’m not sure.
- I don’t think it’s that simple.
I’m afraid that I’ll never truly understand the meaning of life.
- I understand that feeling.
- I don’t think you need to understand the meaning of life to be happy.
- I think you’re wrong.
- I think you should just focus on living your life to the fullest.
Which of the following is most likely to frustrate you?
- People who don’t take philosophy seriously.
- People who are afraid to think for themselves.
- People who are always complaining.
- People who are always trying to control others.
What is the trickiest part about understanding Spinoza’s Ethics?
- His complex language.
- His abstract concepts.
- His challenging arguments.
- His unconventional views on God.
Do you have a mentor or a support system that helps you with your philosophical exploration?
- Yes, I have a mentor or a support system.
- No, I don’t have a mentor or a support system.
- I’m not sure.
- I don’t think I need a mentor or a support system.
Do you have an issue with understanding the concept of “intellectual love of God” or have trouble relating to Spinoza’s idea of “blessedness”?
- I have an issue with understanding the concept of “intellectual love of God”.
- I have trouble relating to Spinoza’s idea of “blessedness”.
- I have no issues with either of those concepts.
- I’m not sure.
How do you determine your understanding of Spinoza’s Ethics each week?
- By reading a specific amount of text each week.
- By meditating on his ideas each week.
- By discussing his ideas with others each week.
- By applying his ideas to my own life each week.
Are your ethical decisions consistently achieving their assigned goals?
- Yes, I believe my ethical decisions are consistent and effective.
- No, I struggle to apply my ethical principles consistently.
- I’m not sure if my ethical decisions are achieving their goals.
- I don’t think it’s possible to know for sure.
How do you manage the aspect of emotional regulation in your life?
- I use mindfulness techniques to regulate my emotions.
- I rely on my support system for emotional support.
- I engage in activities that help me to feel better.
- I try to avoid situations that trigger strong emotions.