What does Seneca’s moral letter say about love?
He says that pure love is selfless love. This improves you as in your concern for the ones you love you will strive to take better care of yourself. For Seneca love is a legitimate emotion but only if it is selfless.
What does Seneca’s moral letter say about the tree analogy?
Seneca acknowledges that losing someone will FEEL like the hardest thing to bear but in actuality it is like losing leaves from a tree. The person may be gone, but the bond you had with them will be replaced by that same bond with a new person. This new person will not be the same but neither will you after this loss.
What does Seneca’s moral letter say about being in a group of vice-ridden people?
BE responsible for your actions and remove yourself from that group as associating with people of vice will encourage vice in us.
What does Seneca’s moral letter say about passions governing your life?
That you will be carried away by them like a rushing river. Describes us as having an inner battle between passion and reason and that one must DOMINATE the other. There is no balance. Therefore cannot enjoy passions moderately.
what is duras?
hardness
What is mollitia?
softness/weakness/vulnerability, this is a vice
What does Seneca’s moral letters say about Vice? what simile does he use?
He also says that one extreme vice is better than having many small ones. He also likens our vices to wild animals, never fully tamed.
what does Seneca’s moral letter say about men wearing women’s clothes?
He thinks of masculinity as the hardened within projected without. AKA it’s unnatural for a man to be mollitia.
What does Seneca’s moral letter say about trying to preserve youth?
Don’t try to stop wrinkles, its soft and unnatural to prevent the years from showing.
What does Seneca’s moral letter say about Sex?
Can’t be gay as its not for reproduction and therefore just indulgent and vice. Because men are impenetrable that makes them more potent than women.
What is the outline of Seneca’s ‘On Providence’?
compares the lives of Maecenas and Regulus. How adversity is better for us than comfort as it will make you duras.
Who was Regulus?
Consul in 267 and 256 BC for Augustus. He negotiated a treaty between Carthage and Rome after he was captured, but advised Rome not to take the deal and willingly returned to captivity to be tortured to death.
Who was Maecenas?
Maecenas was a friend of Augustus’ and patron to Horace and Virgil. Known for living indulgently.
What does ‘On Providence’ say about Regulus?
The torture was good for Regulus as it gave him the opportunity to display more virtue by upholding his oaths. He died happy as his virtue would be a shining example for generations to come.
What does ‘On Providence’ say about Maecenas?
Maecenas’ life of ease and pleasure is actually just a life of constant anxiety and distress because he is tormented by his love affairs and nagging wife Terentia. This torment drives him to seek distraction in physical stimuli and vice.
What does ‘On Providence’ say people prefer?
Says people will prefer to choose Regulus.
What is Seneca’s ‘On Benefits’?
A philosophical dialogue in praise of marriage and family.
What does Seneca say about marriage in ‘On Benefits’?
Says that men should marry even though there is a chance that they could disturb your peace as you can never be sure about your wives or children being worthy of you. It is also a virtuous state to be in.
How does Seneca say that Wives should be and how you should pick one in ‘On Benefits’?
When picking a wife be rational. Wives should be chaste, faithful and modest. Their relationship is characterised by reciprocal obligations.
What does Seneca say children should be in ‘On Benefits’?
They should be dutiful and acknowledge their parents need respect and obedience ALWAYS. Their relationship is characterised by reciprocal obligations.
Why does Seneca say that marriage duties are hard to achieve successfully in ‘On Benefits’?
Because everything virtuous is hard, therefore saying marriage is a virtuous state as it gives you opportunities to display virtue.
What does Seneca do/explore in his ‘Consolation to Helvia’? Why is it written?
Written to console his mother after his exile. In this he explores the idealised family unit and alters the canonical stoic doctrine allowing for some emotional response.
What does Seneca liken his grief and pain to in his ‘Consolation to Helvia’?
Likens it to a violent physical injury.
What does Seneca say is the cure for Helvia’s grief and what does he say she should use it for in his ‘Consolation to Helvia’?
Goes through all the most painful, grief filled moments she has experienced so far. Says that she must learn to use this grief rather than allow it to overwhelm her.
