MONTREAL (Quebec, Canada): Conference "The Power of Desire"

“Desire is the essence of man,” wrote Spinoza. And human beings are probably the only living beings in whom desire takes on an infinite character. When it resides in the realm of being (knowledge, love), the infinite nature of desire enriches human beings and benefits all living things. When it resides in the realm of having, however, the infinite nature of desire leads to the ideology of “always more,” which makes individuals perpetually dissatisfied and is the primary cause of the ecological catastrophe.

How can we properly direct our desires to be happy and harmonize them with those of other living beings? How can we cultivate vital and creative energy and avoid the trap of envy or mimetic desire?