Letters from a Stoic
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A philosophy that saw self-possession as the key to an existence lived 'in accordance with nature', Stoicism called for the restraint of animal instincts and the severing of emotional ties. These beliefs were formulated by the Athenian followers of Zeno in the fourth century BC, but it was in Seneca (c. 4 BC- AD 65) that the Stoics found their most eloquent advocate. Stoicism, as expressed in the Letters, helped ease pagan Rome's transition to Christianity, for it upholds upright ethical ideals and extols virtuous living, as well as expressing disgust for the harsh treatment of slaves and the inhumane slaughters witnessed in the Roman arenas. Seneca's major contribution to a seemingly unsympathetic creed was to transform it into a powerfully moving and inspiring declaration of the dignity of the individual mind.
About the Author
Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c.4BC - AD65) was born in Spain but was raised according to the traditional values of the republic of Rome. In AD48 he became tutor to the future emperor Nero and became his principal civil advisor when he took power. His death was eventually ordered by Nero in AD65, but Seneca anticipated the emperor's decree and committed suicide.
Robin Campbell is a well-known translator.
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LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA was born at Cordoba, then the leading town in Roman Spain, at about the same time as Christ. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA was born at Cordoba, then the leading town in Roman Spain, at about the same time as Christ. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A review by Luciano Lupini. This book is the fundamental vademecum for every day life. No person that I know has left this book suffer the dust and the quiet tranquillity that any other philosophy book enjoy in a library. This letters contain all the wisdom and the poise to enable any inquisitive soul to aquire selfcontrol, to endure with dignity the burdens of misfortune, to take success and fame with humbleness and cynicism, to prepare with serenity to die. Finally, to consider the end of life with the detachment of someone who has used well a precious object, without contracting the disease of jealousy.
This is a very easily readable book, and it was written by Seneca in the last four years of his life (62-65 A.D.). In my opinion is the masterpiece of his moral philosophy.
Seneca's literary style was criticized by his contemporaries for its fragmentary and non-classic hues, and it is truly very modern. Caligula defined it as "sand without lime". St. Augustine in his City of God, in a reference to his contradictions, criticized the fact that this man who almost achieved real freedom through philosophy, pursued what he criticized, did what he loathed and inculpated what he adored. AND WHAT DOES MODERN MAN DO? Maybe we must admit that Seneca lived a life full of contradictions, triumphs and failures but he never truly believed in the roles that he had to play and he was always ready to detach himself from material things, devoid of illusions but also of bitterness.
This is a very easily readable book, and it was written by Seneca in the last four years of his life (62-65 A.D.). In my opinion is the masterpiece of his moral philosophy.
Seneca's literary style was criticized by his contemporaries for its fragmentary and non-classic hues, and it is truly very modern. Caligula defined it as "sand without lime". St. Augustine in his City of God, in a reference to his contradictions, criticized the fact that this man who almost achieved real freedom through philosophy, pursued what he criticized, did what he loathed and inculpated what he adored. AND WHAT DOES MODERN MAN DO? Maybe we must admit that Seneca lived a life full of contradictions, triumphs and failures but he never truly believed in the roles that he had to play and he was always ready to detach himself from material things, devoid of illusions but also of bitterness.
That is why his work has survived the ages and has been celebrated for his modernity. I would say that his teachings are atemporal, and this is the best tribute to him. Maybe this is why
his letters were the bedside book of Montaigne. And mine.
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am privileged to be the first review of one of the true greats of philisophical inquiry.
Seneca lived during dangerous times and had to play a careful balancing act to even survive in the age when families of the Roman aristocracy were being decimated by various capricious Emperors.
He was also the main tutor to the young Emperor Nero . And though he initialy tried to avoid this erroneous task , he eventually did indeed end up trying to keep the reigns on the megalomaniac that was the young Nero.
Seneca's philosophy as espoused in this book is gentle yet firm .Above all , I feel he re-itterates the fact , that it is not good enough for a philosopher to talk about philosophy , he must live it as well.
Read this book and get some idea of the great man .
And then find out how his life ended.
It is humbling.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There must be something about the way Latin is structured that causes it to be easy and straightforward when written down. Seneca's Letters From a Stoic are a case in point and these missives to a young follower are a model of simplicity, clarity and good writing; they are also a master lesson in political and ideological trimming.
Seneca was a follower of the cult of stoicism first put forward by Zeno in 300 BC (Seneca was living nearly 300 years later between 4 BC and 65 AD). Roman stoicism was a three bladed philosophy. The first part was logic, which here essentially means looking at the universe and paying attention to what you see and taking conclusions from it. The second leg was physics, which has nothing to do with our modern concept but was more like the idea of the force in Star Wars - in other words that there is a real force of nature that human beings can make use of in their daily lives. Thirdly, there was ethics, which to the Stoics meant that the prime aim of human life was happiness and that the way of achieving this objective was to live in accordance with nature or the ethical force.
To many Stoics these threefold principles meant living a simple, almost monastic, life. But Seneca was one of the richest men in Rome and, from his position as tutor to the emperor Nero, effectively ran the Roman Empire for a period of some five years. He was thus a real-world politician and there are certainly records of him being complicit in acts and foul deeds that would be difficult to reconcile with a traditional view of the stoic philosophy.
What comes across in these letters is precisely this ambiguity in Seneca's make-up. He is an intelligent man able to reduce complex ideas to simple themes but is also vain it is clear that he intends these letters to be published and that only his side will matter. There is never any mention of the name or any other personal details of his co- respondent.
Seneca knows how to spin an argument his way and he finds it entirely justifiable, for example, that someone should be both rich and stoic, provided that they are not showy about their wealth. But ultimately his spinning is rather too transparent - for example he becomes a vegetarian for many years as a matter of principle but instantly surrenders this when his father warns him that the emperor believes vegetarianism is an act of rebellion against the Empire.
Whilst perhaps Seneca's philosophy is somewhat wonky, the reader is left with a fascinating insight into the Roman way of life, sometimes in minute detail, for example what happens at the Roman baths, and also into the thinking process of a master politician.
Ultimately Seneca's trimming did him no good and Nero ordered him to commit suicide, which he willingly did.
Seneca was a follower of the cult of stoicism first put forward by Zeno in 300 BC (Seneca was living nearly 300 years later between 4 BC and 65 AD). Roman stoicism was a three bladed philosophy. The first part was logic, which here essentially means looking at the universe and paying attention to what you see and taking conclusions from it. The second leg was physics, which has nothing to do with our modern concept but was more like the idea of the force in Star Wars - in other words that there is a real force of nature that human beings can make use of in their daily lives. Thirdly, there was ethics, which to the Stoics meant that the prime aim of human life was happiness and that the way of achieving this objective was to live in accordance with nature or the ethical force.
To many Stoics these threefold principles meant living a simple, almost monastic, life. But Seneca was one of the richest men in Rome and, from his position as tutor to the emperor Nero, effectively ran the Roman Empire for a period of some five years. He was thus a real-world politician and there are certainly records of him being complicit in acts and foul deeds that would be difficult to reconcile with a traditional view of the stoic philosophy.
What comes across in these letters is precisely this ambiguity in Seneca's make-up. He is an intelligent man able to reduce complex ideas to simple themes but is also vain it is clear that he intends these letters to be published and that only his side will matter. There is never any mention of the name or any other personal details of his co- respondent.
Seneca knows how to spin an argument his way and he finds it entirely justifiable, for example, that someone should be both rich and stoic, provided that they are not showy about their wealth. But ultimately his spinning is rather too transparent - for example he becomes a vegetarian for many years as a matter of principle but instantly surrenders this when his father warns him that the emperor believes vegetarianism is an act of rebellion against the Empire.
Whilst perhaps Seneca's philosophy is somewhat wonky, the reader is left with a fascinating insight into the Roman way of life, sometimes in minute detail, for example what happens at the Roman baths, and also into the thinking process of a master politician.
Ultimately Seneca's trimming did him no good and Nero ordered him to commit suicide, which he willingly did.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fundamental and Useful Philosophy
As another reviewer has stated, this is not a book that should gather much dust on a shelf as it really is quite stunning and has plenty of sage advise right through it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lesley Tingle
As relevant today, as it was in Roman times
Letters from a Stoic is classic text in the same way as Sun Tzu's the Art of War, the knowledge imparted is timeless. Read more
Published on 13 July 2003 by Mr. G. Carroll
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