Conatus
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Search complete. 2 mentions across 2 episodes found for "Conatus".
Oct 7, 2026
speaker_2NARRATOR
Spinoza called this force conatus.
speaker_2NARRATOR
The word is difficult to translate directly because Spinoza meant something broader than a simple survival instinct.
speaker_2NARRATOR
Conatus is the essence of a thing to strive to remain what it is.
speaker_2NARRATOR
A tree pushes its roots deeper into soil.
speaker_2NARRATOR
An animal avoids danger.
Spencer SheininGUEST
If any of your listeners [laughs] know Latin, correct me, please.
Spencer SheininGUEST
Conatus.
Spencer SheininGUEST
But it's the unstoppable drive of a thing to be what it essentially is, right? So, like, a seed's conatus is to become whatever plant of the seed it is.
Spencer SheininGUEST
A rock's conatus is to stay a rock.