seneca Flashcards
when was seneca active in politics
37-41ad
when did seneca fall out of favour
under the rule of colligula- he retired from politics
when did seneca return and why
return from exile (due to alleged adultry with claudius’ niece)
requested to return by agrippina who wanted him to act as tutor for her son (emperor) nero
48/49ad
when and why did seneca commit suicide
65ad
pisonian conspiracy - a plot to assassinate nero resulted in the implication of seneca and nero forced him to commit suicide
how did seneca change stoicism
-modifies and updates stoicism
-he shuns unnecessary vices
-seeks reason to unshackle the body from desire
-he advocates friendship
-permits greif
-believes love is separate from bodily desires and allows it
why was stoicism so important to seneca
acted as a stabilising factor in his life full of stress
what quote does seneca use to describe the passion of lovers
“no doubt the passion of lovers has something similar to friendship; you might say that it is maddened friendship”
what does seneca say about wise men and friendship as a natural instinct
“it is not the utility of it that draws the wise man to friendship but a natural instinct. for just like there is an innate pleasure for us in other things so there is in friendship”
what does seneca believe a life without friendship is
no life at all
what quote does seneca use to argue the reason for his friendships
“to have someone i can die for, to have someone i can follow into exile for whose death i might exchange my own and pay the price instead”
what quote does seneca use to describe the pure love he has with his wife that makes him love himself more
“what could be more pleasant than to be so dear to a wife that because of this you become dearer to yourself”
what does seneca believe about desire and it’s control
desire as a way the body could take control of the mind
indulgence of lust was simply overthrowing reason
what quote does seneca use to explain how he is not affected by human suffering such as lust
“he is not assaulted by a fear of poverty, not by the troubles of riches, not by the stings of lust which rips the soul apart through its pleasures”
what is senecas play phaedra about
phaedra is consumed by unnatural love directed towards her step son
what quote shows phaedra being consumed by her desire
“she feels no concern for food or for her health. now completely drained of strength; … and the gentle beauty has fallen from her shining form”
what quote shows that sex was viewed as natural
“lust was given to humanity not for the sake of pleasure but for the propagtion of the human race”
what quote shows the view that desire is an illness
“lust and fear and boldness give their own indications and are able to be recognised: for no overly violent passion enters us which does not damage our expression”
what did stoics believe about childbirth
important to their society
what did stoics believe about desire in comparison to food
they live on basic food and drink and also seek balence ensure their desire is for virtuous purposes
what do stoics believe about alcohol
absitence from alcohol is important as it helps in resisting desire
what quote shows that stoics are anti drunks
“drunkeness does not create vices but it brings them out”
what does seneca believe about indulging in vices
it distracts from the pursuit of virtue
what does seneca believe is the way to true happiness
shedding desire
why is seneca concerned about men who dress as women
they invite the sexual advances of other men
where do we see an example of feminine men
nero in the dark woods going through a wedding ceremony to a man while wearing a bridal veil
how were ‘passive’ homosexuals characterised
“does it not seem to you to be living against nature those who change their clothes for womens”
what does the quote “and although his sex ought to have rescued him from this abuse, will not even his age rescue him from it” imply
- homosexual men are imitating young boys
- links to greek pederastic relationship (an element of xenephobia)
- takes a dim view of gay relationships
why would seneca be against homoerotic relationships
- doesnt fulfil the idea of sex as reproduction
- desire for the sake of desire
- against it as he sees no point in it not merely homophobic
what quote shows the idea that you cannot expect your wife to be chaste when you are not
“you know that he is wicked the man who requires chastity from his wife but himself is a seducer of others”
what did seneca think of slavery
- uncomfortable with the idea of slavery and advocated for fairer treatment
- points out the irony that romans cant see benefits they recieve from slaves even though they give into lust with slaves
- appalled romans can call anyone a slave when they are all slaves to lust and gluttony
what quote shows that the romans deny the benefit of slaves while having relations with them
“at the same time you despise the slaves and worship them”
What for virtues does stoicism encompass?
Wisdom, temperance, justice, courage
What does Seneca say about courage?
Sometimes, even to live, is an act of courage
What do scholars note about the first five years of Nero’s reign
They were very positive
Might be due to the fact that Seneca remained Neroes advisor
What made Seneca retire to a private life?
Neros leadership became more erratic
What did Seneca believe about the stoic?
Stoic was a wise man who needed nothing
The true wise man lives, purely for the soul
He could gain a great fortune, and this would make him no happier he could lose everything and become no less sad.
What is the benefit of Senecas milder form of stoicism?
It allows the wisemen human interaction and therefore love
What is love to Seneca?
A very pure thing completely separate from bodily desires
According to stoicism, what is humanity?
One large community
In relation to friendship, what is not in keeping with the stoic life
To expect favours from a friend
Why was it easy for seneca to say that to expect favours from a friend is not in line with stoic life
He had no need to ask for favours because of his position, but many people would’ve wanted favours from him
What quote presents the idea that love needs to be mutual and shared
If you want to be loved then love
What are factors desire have on the soul according to Seneca
Seneca believe that every time you give into lustful pursuits, you are creating a new wound on your soul. The more you give in the worst, the infection gets
How does Seneca describe a world without sex?
Then the Earth will live filthy in it’s foul site,
the sea will stand empty without any fish An the sky will lack the bird and the forest the beast
And the air will get passage to only winds
What does Seneca say about vices and lust
Vices press upon us and surround us on all sides, and they do not allow us to get up again and raise our eyes for the examination of truth, but they press down on us, submerged and fastened to our lust
what is senecas wife called
paulina
