seneca

Question 1

when was seneca active in politics

Answer 1

37-41ad

Question 2

when did seneca fall out of favour

Answer 2

under the rule of colligula- he retired from politics

Question 3

when did seneca return and why

Answer 3

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

Question 4

when and why did seneca commit suicide

Answer 4

65ad
pisonian conspiracy - a plot to assassinate nero resulted in the implication of seneca and nero forced him to commit suicide

Question 5

how did seneca change stoicism

Answer 5

-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

Question 6

why was stoicism so important to seneca

Answer 6

acted as a stabilising factor in his life full of stress

Question 7

what quote does seneca use to describe the passion of lovers

Answer 7

“no doubt the passion of lovers has something similar to friendship; you might say that it is maddened friendship”

Question 8

what does seneca say about wise men and friendship as a natural instinct

Answer 8

“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”

Question 9

what does seneca believe a life without friendship is

Answer 9

no life at all

Question 10

what quote does seneca use to argue the reason for his friendships

Answer 10

“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”

Question 11

what quote does seneca use to describe the pure love he has with his wife that makes him love himself more

Answer 11

“what could be more pleasant than to be so dear to a wife that because of this you become dearer to yourself”

Question 12

what does seneca believe about desire and it’s control

Answer 12

desire as a way the body could take control of the mind
indulgence of lust was simply overthrowing reason

Question 13

what quote does seneca use to explain how he is not affected by human suffering such as lust

Answer 13

“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”

Question 14

what is senecas play phaedra about

Answer 14

phaedra is consumed by unnatural love directed towards her step son

Question 15

what quote shows phaedra being consumed by her desire

Answer 15

“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”

Question 16

what quote shows that sex was viewed as natural

Answer 16

“lust was given to humanity not for the sake of pleasure but for the propagtion of the human race”

Question 17

what quote shows the view that desire is an illness

Answer 17

“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”

Question 18

what did stoics believe about childbirth

Answer 18

important to their society

Question 19

what did stoics believe about desire in comparison to food

Answer 19

they live on basic food and drink and also seek balence ensure their desire is for virtuous purposes

Question 20

what do stoics believe about alcohol

Answer 20

absitence from alcohol is important as it helps in resisting desire

Question 21

what quote shows that stoics are anti drunks

Answer 21

“drunkeness does not create vices but it brings them out”

Question 22

what does seneca believe about indulging in vices

Answer 22

it distracts from the pursuit of virtue

Question 23

what does seneca believe is the way to true happiness

Answer 23

shedding desire

Question 24

why is seneca concerned about men who dress as women

Answer 24

they invite the sexual advances of other men

Question 25

where do we see an example of feminine men

Answer 25

nero in the dark woods going through a wedding ceremony to a man while wearing a bridal veil

Question 26

how were ‘passive’ homosexuals characterised

Answer 26

“does it not seem to you to be living against nature those who change their clothes for womens”

Question 27

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

Answer 27

• homosexual men are imitating young boys
• links to greek pederastic relationship (an element of xenephobia)
• takes a dim view of gay relationships

Question 28

why would seneca be against homoerotic relationships

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

what quote shows the idea that you cannot expect your wife to be chaste when you are not

Answer 29

“you know that he is wicked the man who requires chastity from his wife but himself is a seducer of others”

Question 30

what did seneca think of slavery

Answer 30

• 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

Question 31

what quote shows that the romans deny the benefit of slaves while having relations with them

Answer 31

“at the same time you despise the slaves and worship them”

Question 32

What for virtues does stoicism encompass?

Answer 32

Wisdom, temperance, justice, courage

Question 33

What does Seneca say about courage?

Answer 33

Sometimes, even to live, is an act of courage

Question 34

What do scholars note about the first five years of Nero’s reign

Answer 34

They were very positive
Might be due to the fact that Seneca remained Neroes advisor

Question 35

What made Seneca retire to a private life?

Answer 35

Neros leadership became more erratic

Question 36

What did Seneca believe about the stoic?

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

What is the benefit of Senecas milder form of stoicism?

Answer 37

It allows the wisemen human interaction and therefore love

Question 38

What is love to Seneca?

Answer 38

A very pure thing completely separate from bodily desires

Question 39

According to stoicism, what is humanity?

Answer 39

One large community

Question 40

In relation to friendship, what is not in keeping with the stoic life

Answer 40

To expect favours from a friend

Question 41

Why was it easy for seneca to say that to expect favours from a friend is not in line with stoic life

Answer 41

He had no need to ask for favours because of his position, but many people would’ve wanted favours from him

Question 42

What quote presents the idea that love needs to be mutual and shared

Answer 42

If you want to be loved then love

Question 43

What are factors desire have on the soul according to Seneca

Answer 43

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

Question 44

How does Seneca describe a world without sex?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

What does Seneca say about vices and lust

Answer 45

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

Question 46

what is senecas wife called

Answer 46

paulina