Introduction to the Stoic Philosopher Seneca | Stoicism | Greek Philosophy

In this article, we discuss the life, death and legacy of one of the most influential, admired and controversial stoic philosophers, Seneca the Younger….

Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger was born in Cordoba, Hispania in 4 BCE. His father was Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Elder. Seneca was brought to Rome in 5 CE by his aunt. That’s where he studied the usual subjects and was introduced to Stoicism. He received his training in philosophy from Attalus the Stoic, and Sotion and Papirius Fabianus, from the School of the Sextii.

With the help of his aunt’s influence, Seneca was elected quaestor and earned the right to sit in the Roman Senate. In 41 CE, Seneca was accused of adultery with Caligula’s sister Julia Livilla by the new mistress Messalina when Claudia became emperor. The death sentence pronounced by the Senate was commuted to exile by Claudia.

Seneca was recalled to Rome in 49 CE through the influence of Agrippina. She gained praetorship for Seneca and appointed him as tutor to her son and future emperor, Nero. Seneca acted as an advisor to emperor Nero from 54 to 62 CE.

After the death of Burrus in 62 CE, Seneca’s influence on Roman Senate declined rapidly. He tried to retire twice in 62 and 64 CE but was refused by Nero on both occasions.

In 65 CE, Seneca got caught up in the aftermath of the Pisonian conspiracy, a plot to kill Nero. Although it was unlikely that Seneca was part of the conspiracy, Nero ordered him to kill himself.

Seneca followed tradition by severing several veins to bleed to death. His wife, Pompeia Paulina, attempted to follow his fate but Nero ordered her to be saved. Seneca’s death wasn’t quick although he even took some poison. His age and diet are often blamed for the slow blood loss.

Tacitus wrote,” He was then carried into a bath, with the steam of which he was suffocated and he was burned without any of the usual funeral rites. So he had directed in a codicil of his will, even when in the height of his wealth and power he was thinking of life’s close.”

Legacy of Seneca

Although Seneca was Pegan, the early christian churches were very favourably disposed towards him. In fact, Seneca was placed as one of the saints besides Plato and Aristotle in Limbo by Dante. His suicide is even projected as a secret baptism by some although suicide is a sin in christianity.

But with all his admirers, Seneca has received a fair share of criticism even when he was alive. He has been accused of hypocrisy and a less stoic lifestyle. His plea for restoration which he wrote while banished to Corsica is often pointed out as incompatible with the stoic ways.

It was often criticised how in a very short service to Nero, Seneca had gained a vast personal fortune of three hundred million sestertii by charging high interests on loans. He also had properties at Baiae and Nomentum, an Alban villa, and Egyptian estates. Seneca was very sensitive to such criticism. He even defended himself for acquiring wealth “along stoic lines” in his De Vita Beata [“On Happy Day”].

But historian and scholar Anna Ludia Motto argued in 1966 that, “We are therefore left with no contemporary record of Seneca’s life, save for the desperate opinion of Publius Suillius. Think of the barren image we should have of Socrates, had the works of Plato and Xenophon not come down to us and were we wholly dependent upon Aristophanes’ description of this Athenian philosopher. To be sure, we should have a highly distorted, misconstrued view. Such is the view left to us of Seneca, if we were to rely upon Suillius alone.”

Although he has been accused by many for not living what he preached, Seneca has been one of the few Roman philosophers who had the most influence during the Renaissance.

Most of his writings are still available in proper and complete conditions. Irrespective of whether Seneca “walked the talk”, what he talked about still act as a firm moral guideline even today. This makes him one of the most respected and influential stoic philosophers.

For more, watch the video essay: https://youtu.be/A6igUgrAXQk