Lucius Annaeus Seneca and Life
Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Famous for Epistles
Ancient Roman philosopher Seneca the younger was a statesman, dramatist and essayist. He was famous for his Stoic philosophy and Epistles, and lived a high-profile and dangerous life among the fickle Roman emperors, including Nero, who he tutored as a boy and eventually, he fell victim to.
Brief biography of Seneca the Younger
Son of Seneca the elder, Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the younger (4BC-65AD), was born in Cordoba, Spain. He was educated in philosophy from an early age in Rome, where he flirted with death at the hands of three emperors during his lifetime – Caligula, Claudius and Nero.
Caligula dissuaded on killing him thinking that Seneca was destined to live a short life. Claudius exiled him. Finally, Seneca fell victim to Nero when he was falsely accused of plotting against the emperor. In all this, Seneca had a successful career as a lawyer and had personal fortune.
Seneca's Philosophy
Seneca was a Stoic philosopher who believed in a simple life and devotion to virtue and reason. But his kind of stoicism was moderated with practical approach. He constantly tried to administer advice to his readers rather than impart philosophical wisdom. It is said that philosopher Boethius was consoled by reading Seneca's works while in prison.
His stoicism is tinged with pseudo-religious flavor, but importantly, reflects a concern with ethical and moral principles at the expense of metaphysics.
Works by Seneca the Younger
Broadly, his works can be categorized into three kinds:
- Essays on stoic philosophy including On Tranquillity, On Steadfastness, the Happy Life, and On Leisure.
- Epistles, including Epistulae Morales, a collection of 124 essays, written to someone called Lucilius, full of advice how to become a better stoic. This collection is regarded as his most important philosophical work.
- Plays including The Trojan Women, Oedipus, Medea, The Mad Hercules, The Phoenician Women, Phaedra, Agamemnon and Thyestes.
Seneca's Practiced Philosophy to the End
The importance Seneca places on doing the right thing was displayed in the manner of his death as reported by the Roman historian, Tacitus. Upon hearing Nero's sentence, Seneca slashed his arms and legs and gave an erudite speech to his wife, Paulina, and the gathered audience.
Despite his wounds, he lingered on. Tacitus further reported that Seneca "begged Statius Annaeus to produce a poison, the same drug which extinguishes the life of those who were condemned by a public sentence of the people of Athens, which is the "hemlock of Socrates." Eventually the poison was brought to him and he drank it to his death, a forced suicide, as he wished.
An Insight into Seneca's Philosophy
Seneca insists that the only good is virtue and that doing the right thing is of paramount importance. Each and every person, professed Seneca, has a good within him or her that guides everyone along the path set by God. Happiness can be attained only by acting in accord with one's own true nature as revealed by the inner guide, and being content with one's lot in life.
Simple living and altruism are essential to Seneca's idea of correct and proper living.
Sources:
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
- Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, the Great Thinkers. London: Capella, 2007.
Seneca with Plato & Aristotle, Great Philosophers
|
Philosopher Seneca Bust
|
Latest Articles