Seneca: biography of the famous stoic philosopher.

We review the life of one of the most audacious orators of the Roman era.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca is one of the most representative philosophers of the school of Stoicism, especially in its later stage of development.especially of its later stage of development. He was one of the most important figures for philosophy during the Roman Empire and is taken up to the present day in studies on Greek philosophy and contemporary ethics.

Although it is not an autobiographical writing, in all his work, Seneca maintains a great connection between his daily experiences and the philosophical reflections that these provoked in him. This has come down to our days through the written records that Seneca himself made.

In this article you will find a biography of Lucio Anneo Séneca as well as some of the main characteristics of his work.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca: biography of a stoicist philosopher.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca was born in Cordoba, Spain in approximately 4 BC.at the height of the Roman Empire in the province of Hispania. He came from a distinguished family of high society.

His father, Marcus Annaeus Seneca, was a Roman orator and writer who conducted important studies on the history of oratory. Many of his works were attributed to Lucius Annaeus during the Middle Ages, a period in which Seneca junior had much recognition. To differentiate him, he was called Seneca the Orator or Seneca the Elder.

The life of Seneca the Younger went through different moments that allowed him to reflect deeply on emotions, ambition, the healing power of philosophy, and death, among other topics. In fact, much of his writing is often interpreted in terms of his biography. He studied rhetoric and philosophy in Rome and his career is known to have been successful, somewhat dramatic and also political.

For example, he was accused of adultery and exiled to Corsica. He was also among Emperor Nero's advisors at politically complicated times, and was eventually accused of complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero. For this reason he was forced to commit suicide in Rome in 65.

Stoicism and the writings of Seneca

Stoicism is a philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium and based on the mastery of the passions and a life based on seeking happiness through reason. through reason. During the imperial period, this school had a great influence on literary works.

Especially the tragedies of Seneca, with an important philosophical content, were of great relevance. For the same reason, Seneca is considered both a philosopher and a poet. Although this differentiation has been a controversial issue among specialists.

In ancient times, in fact, it was thought that there were "two Senecas": a philosopher and a tragic (or poet). Today it is accepted that Seneca's interest in ethics and psychology (especially the destructive effects of excessive emotionality), are present throughout his literary work, both in verse and prose.

In any case, his tragedies are recognized as darker writings than those in prose. This is the case, for example, of the theme of death, which in his prose writings appears as a liberation; in fact, he justified suicide as an ethical way of dying. However, in the tragedies, death is often presented as the transition to greater suffering.

Seneca agreed with a psychological monism, in that he does not distinguish between a rational and a non-rational component of the soul (as neither did the earlier Stoics). For them, knowledge is based on action; there is no distinction between a practical and a theoretical reason. In this sense, theorizing and reflecting on the ethical and moral aspects of everyday life is a way of producing knowledge, attaining happiness and virtue.

Later influence

Part of Seneca's Stoicism is recognized as one of the most important antecedents of modern concerns about shaping ourselves and our lives. On the one hand, Seneca's work emphasizes earlier Stoic philosophy and adds some details to it. On the other hand, his work is characterized by the absence of technicalities and by emphasizing the therapeutic properties and practical qualities of philosophy.

He defended the idea of the equality of men and a lifestyle based on moderation. The latter represented the road to happiness, and should be accompanied by the rejection of superstitions. This part of his work was taken up in an important way by Renaissance currents and by different philosophical schools of modernity.

Representative works

In his writings he discusses some questions that have to do with moral problems of everyday life. Among the most outstanding works are, for example, Letters to Licilio, The Moral Letters, The Moral Essays, The Codex Ambrosiano and The Natural Questions. Together with The Consolation to his mother Helvia and The Consolation to Polybius, The Consolation of Marcia is the oldest work known to the present day.

Bibliographical references:

• Vogt, K. (2015). Seneca. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved August 13, 2018. Available at https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/seneca/#LifWor.