True Freedom by Brent Adkins presents Spinoza’s philosophy, focusing predominantly on its ethical dimensions and its applicability to the practical concerns of living a meaningful life. Adkins, through his scholarly yet accessible approach, aims to unravel the complexities of Spinoza’s thoughts by anchoring them in the everyday realities of human experience. Unlike many interpretations that have historically emphasized Spinoza’s metaphysical and epistemological contributions, Adkins takes a refreshingly practical turn, making Spinoza’s ethics the centerpiece of his analysis. This approach makes the book not only an insightful commentary on Spinoza’s philosophy but also a pragmatic guide for those seeking to understand how philosophical ideas can directly inform and transform the conduct of life.
Adkins begins with what he identifies as Spinoza’s fundamental ethical insight: that emotions, which are often the most potent forces in our lives, can be managed and even controlled through understanding. This idea is both simple and profound, as it ties the concept of freedom directly to the power of reason. For Spinoza, emotions are not merely passive states inflicted upon us by external circumstances; they are dynamic forces that can be redirected and reformed through the application of rational thought. Adkins highlights how this insight underpins Spinoza’s broader philosophical system, where the true path to freedom is not found in external conditions or adherence to prescriptive moral rules but in the cultivation of a rational understanding that allows individuals to navigate their emotional lives more effectively.
The strength of Adkins’ exposition lies in its focus on the practical implications of Spinoza’s ethics. He treats Spinoza not merely as a figure of historical interest but as a thinker whose ideas continue to have relevance in contemporary debates across various fields, including psychology, political theory, and even neuroscience. Adkins makes a compelling case for understanding Spinoza’s ethics as a form of experimentalism. In this view, ethical living is not about adhering to rigid prescriptions but about engaging in a continuous process of experimentation with one’s capacities to affect and be affected by the world. This process-oriented view of ethics contrasts sharply with the more static moral frameworks of Spinoza’s predecessors and contemporaries, offering a dynamic alternative that resonates with modern sensibilities.
True freedom, according to Spinoza and as interpreted by Adkins, is found in the enhancement of one’s capacities—an idea that Adkins deftly explains through both philosophical analysis and relatable examples. By illustrating Spinoza’s concepts with concrete, everyday scenarios, such as his anecdote of road rage and its sudden dissipation upon a change in understanding, Adkins makes abstract philosophical ideas tangible and relevant. These examples serve not merely as illustrations but as case studies in Spinoza’s experimental ethics, showing how a shift in understanding can transform one’s emotional responses and lead to greater freedom.
Adkins is particularly successful in making Spinoza’s ethical theory accessible without diluting its complexity. He demonstrates that Spinoza’s ethics is not about moral judgment in the conventional sense but about the active versus passive nature of our engagements with the world. Spinoza’s distinction between active and passive emotions becomes the linchpin of Adkins’ argument: active emotions arise from an understanding of causes and lead to greater autonomy and freedom, while passive emotions, rooted in ignorance or misunderstanding, lead to bondage and suffering. This framework allows Adkins to explore a wide array of human experiences—personal, political, and religious—showing how Spinoza’s philosophy can provide a path to greater empowerment and well-being in each of these domains.
Moreover, Adkins does not shy away from the more challenging aspects of Spinoza’s thought. He engages deeply with Spinoza’s metaphysical and epistemological claims, but always with an eye toward their ethical implications. This method of tying abstract philosophical concepts to the lived experience of individuals is what makes True Freedom both an illuminating work of philosophy and a practical guide to life. Adkins’ book thus becomes a vital resource for readers who seek to understand not just the theory behind Spinoza’s ideas but how those ideas can be applied to the real-world challenges of living well.
In addition to making Spinoza’s ethics accessible, Adkins also situates Spinoza within a broader philosophical and cultural context, comparing his ideas with those of other major ethical systems, including Aristotelianism, Stoicism, and Christianity. By doing so, Adkins illuminates the ways in which Spinoza’s thought both converges with and diverges from these traditions. For instance, while Spinoza shares the Stoic concern with the rational control of the emotions, his emphasis on the experimental and contingent nature of ethical life marks a significant departure from the more prescriptive and deterministic tendencies of Stoicism.
Adkins also addresses the common perception that Spinoza’s philosophy is overly deterministic, leaving little room for genuine freedom. He counters this by showing that for Spinoza, determinism does not negate freedom but rather redefines it. Freedom, in Spinoza’s view, is not about the absence of external constraints but about the presence of internal clarity and understanding. It is through this understanding that one can align oneself with the necessary order of the world and thereby achieve a kind of freedom that is far more resilient and profound than the illusory freedom of unbridled choice.
This redefinition of freedom is central to Adkins’ project. He demonstrates that Spinoza’s notion of freedom is intimately connected to his concept of God or Nature, where freedom is understood as the realization of one’s true nature in accordance with the rational structure of reality. Adkins carefully explains how this metaphysical backdrop is essential to understanding Spinoza’s ethics, showing that Spinoza’s ethical theory is inseparable from his views on the nature of reality and knowledge. However, Adkins ensures that these complex ideas are always tethered to their practical implications, making them accessible to a wide audience without sacrificing depth or rigor.
True Freedom bring Adkins’ analysis to the idea that Spinoza’s ethics offers a path to salvation—not in the religious sense, but in the sense of achieving a state of mental and emotional peace. Adkins discusses how Spinoza’s philosophy can be seen as a modern form of salvation, where the aim is not to escape the world or achieve a mystical union with the divine, but to live fully and freely within the world by understanding its necessary order. This understanding, according to Adkins, is the true source of human freedom and the ultimate goal of Spinoza’s ethical project.
True Freedom: Spinoza’s Practical Philosophy is a masterful exposition of Spinoza’s ethical thought, presented in a way that is both deeply philosophical and immediately practical. Brent Adkins successfully bridges the gap between abstract theory and everyday life, showing how Spinoza’s ideas about emotion, understanding, and freedom can provide powerful tools for living a better, more fulfilled life. The book demonstrates the enduring relevance of Spinoza’s philosophy, offering readers not just an interpretation of Spinoza’s ethics but a practical guide for applying these ideas in their own lives. Whether one is a student of philosophy, a scholar, or simply someone seeking to live more wisely, True Freedom offers invaluable insights into the art of living well.
Simon Gros 
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