Seneca Modern Scholarship

Question 1

Liz Gloyn: reciprocity

Answer 1

stresses the importance of the reciprocity between Seneca and his wife Paulina- because she cares for his well being, he finds himself caring more about himself as a result. The underlying principle here being that the sage does not just live for themselves, but for others too.

Question 2

Liz Gloyn: Irrationality and love.

Answer 2

Argued that Seneca believe it’s impossible times love slither human without giving into irrationality.

Question 3

Liz Gloyn: Women and Virtue

Answer 3

Seneca believe that women have the same capacity for virtue as men, meaning they are not automatically inferior to their husbands.

Question 4

Liz Gloyn: Sexual double standard

Answer 4

Points out Seneca disproves of the sexual double standard: that men chest in their wives but expect them to stay faithful- they’ve lost the moral high ground.

Question 5

Robin Campbell: Senecas version of Stoicism

Answer 5

Argues Senecas version if stoicism was less severe and forbidding than earlier forms- evident in his notion that love and friendships are ‘preferred indifferents’ to loneliness and isolation. Apatheia for him is understood as difficult and so he allows friendships and companionships.

Question 6

Anna Motto: true love to Seneca

Answer 6

Claims that’s for Seneca “true love” is like “ideal friendship” and is inspired by “genuine affection”, not the intense emotion of maddened friendship which is what he calls love inspired by desire .

Question 7

Tobias Reinhardt: Roman Morality

Answer 7

Pints out that there is an affinity between trad. Roman Morality and stoic ethic doctrine, especially the Augustan values of fides, virtus, and pietas.

Question 8

Reinhardt: Senecas ideals + Augustus’

Answer 8

Argues Senecas ideas marry well with Augustan values.

Question 9

Reinhardt: Seneca + fate

Answer 9

Points out that Senecas ideas encourage the individual to “embrace the idea of fate.” “Evils are seen to be as party of a grander plan”