After we had a glimpse into the life and views of one of the great Stoic philosophers, Epictetus, in this third #SteemStoic post we have a look at a second, and possibly the most fascinating and intriguing of all, great teacher of Stoicism: Seneca (the Younger).
Life
Born in Cordoba, South Spain, at the beginning of the first Century, Seneca is the son of a well-known Roman author and rhetorics teacher. At young age he would go to study in Rome, where he took up the common subjects of literature, grammar, and rhetoric as well as being taught by Stoic teacher Attalus. He spent a large part of his twenties with his aunt, in Egypt, before returning to Rome in 31 AD, where he pursued a political career - securing the position of Quaestor, which entered him to the Roman Senate.
In the senate, Seneca the Younger was known as a great orator, an orator often offending then emperor Caligula who at some point ordered him to commit to suicide. Seneca’s life was extended as Caligula was convinced by peers that Seneca would soon die from illnesses he suffered from.
Even after Caligula’s assassination Seneca continued to be at the mercy of the Julius-Claudius dynasty and was in 41 AD again the subject of a death sentence, having been accused of adultery with Caligula’s sister, Julia Livilla, by empress Messalina. This time the death sentence was ordered by the Roman Senate but emperor Claudius changed the sentence in exile and Seneca left for Corsica the same year.
Buste of Seneca
He wouldn’t return before 49 AD, after Agrippina, sister to Caligula and Julia Livilla, had married her uncle, emperor Claudius and secured his return. Additionally, she secured him a role as praetor (magistrate) and made him the tutor of her son, the soon to become emperor Nero.
According to historical writers Seneca was very influential in his first years as Imperial Advisor to Nero but his influence soon started to wane. He is credited as author of several Nero speeches.
While Nero’s advisor he also became consul and a (very) wealthy member of Roman society, owning several country estates.
During his time as advisor to Nero he has been accused of acquiring vast wealth by charging high loan interests. Roman historian Cassius Dio has even reported that an uprising in Britannia in 60-61 AD was caused by Seneca recalling a large loan.
After his influence on the emperor started to fade, he retreated to a quieter life in his country estates, writing his most known and influential works, Naturales quaestiones and his Letters to Lucilius.
Seneca found his death in 65AD, after having been suspected of being a member of a plot to assassinate emperor Nero, who subsequently ordered Seneca to commit suicide. Seneca took his life by cutting his veins.
Thoughts
What makes Seneca so fascinating a Stoic philosopher is that he was among the richest Roman citizens of that era. But there’s much more to his life and thinking which makes him so intriguing.
I am not a wise man and I never will be.
Seneca was very self-aware and understood that he wasn’t perfect. Much of his writings come from a healthy and very deep constant sense of self-introspection and self-awareness.
Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well ordered mind than a man’s ability to stop just where he is and pass some time in his own company.
His wealth, often used as a moral weapon against him is something he defends, but also uses as a caution in his philosophy. Obviously, much of this insight can also have found root in his years in exile in Corsica.
Until we have begun to go without them, we fail to realize how unnecessary many things are. We’ve been using them not because we needed them but because we had them.
Do not become the slave of what you have, but be a master to it.
Like most Stoic teachers Seneca regularly writes about life, death and the length of life, often by focusing on the most precious resource of all: our time.
We are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not Ill-supplied but wasteful of it.”
Like most Stoic philosophers he beliefs reason is the key to learning to improve and enjoy life. He also regularly writes about the need not to fear the future, but to live [the moment]. Thus extend the actual living time.
It can be said that, deeply self-introspective, Seneca’s ethical guidance exemplified his own quest for ethical perfection.
Reading
The importance of using our time well is a central element in On the Shortness of Life, a collection of three short letters by Seneca and good introduction to his writings. On the Shortness of Life Is available for free at Archive.org in multiple formats.
Seneca also has written multiple plays, almost all of which are available to read for free at Wikisource, as well as his Letters to Lucilius.
Through history Seneca has been mentioned in Dante, by Erasmus, John of Salisbury, and French author Montaigne.
More recently, Tim Ferris - of the Four Hour Work Week - is one of Seneca’s more popular and more vocal quoters. Tim Ferris also published the audiobook series The Tao of Seneca, which is available in full at Audible.
Next post will look at the third great Stoic philosopher, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, before we have a look at the actual main principles of Stoicism.