seneca on love + desire

Question 1

What should the wise man avoid + focus on?

Answer 1

Avoid physical pleasures + focus

Question 2

How does Seneca say women + men are equal?

Answer 2

Both men + women are equal in capacity to attain virtue

Question 3

What does Seneca + his wife do daily?

Answer 3

Seneca tells his wife about his day + she listens; showing how shes an accomplice + supporting of his virtue

Question 4

What is an ideal marriage?

Answer 4

A bond of pure love + similar to friendship

Question 5

What does Seneca say about his wife?

Answer 5

“For I know that her spirit depends on mine, I care for myself”

Question 6

When shouldn’t you love someone?

Answer 6

For selfish, personal benefit

Question 7

How does Seneca show how much his wife is important to him?

Answer 7

“To have someone I can die for, to have someone I can follow into exile for whose death I might exchange my own + pay the price instead”

Question 8

What does Seneca criticise?

Answer 8

Those who marry for selfish reasons + commit adultery

Question 9

What does Seneca say about sex?

Answer 9

Sex serves the purpose of procreation only

Question 10

What does Motto say Seneca does?

Answer 10

He focuses on the regulation of emotions rather than their denial

Question 11

What is the quote about Seneca’s view on sex?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Who was hostios quadra?

Answer 12

A man who knew no distinction of sex + set up the mirrors to gloat over proportions etc 🙉

Question 13

What did Seneca say love should remember?

Answer 13

Friendship

Question 14

What is love?

Answer 14

There is no personal advantage it’s about what you can give them rather than self-gain

Question 15

What does Seneca say about living for another?

Answer 15

“You must live for another if you want to live for yourself

Question 16

What does Seneca say about desire?

Answer 16

Desire should be avoided; longing of the body, not the soul + harms the Stoic

Question 17

What are vices?

Answer 17

Immoral behaviour

Question 18

Who says Seneca focuses on regulation of emotions rather than their denial?

Answer 18

Motto

Question 19

Why should vices be avoided?

Answer 19

Overindulgence of desire leads to the ruining of the body

Question 20

What is Seneca’s quote about vices? Where does he say this?

Answer 20

“Vices press upon us and surround us on all sides”
- ‘Seneca on the Shortness of life’

Question 21

What does Seneca say about drunkness?

Answer 21

“Drunkness doesn’t create vices but brings them out”

Question 22

What is the example of Phaedra + desire?

Answer 22

“She feels no concern for food or her health”
Loses her strength, grace + beauty bc of desire

Question 23

What does Seneca believe desire should be?

Answer 23

Seneca believes desire should be nipped in the bud before they build into a ‘rushing stream’ + can’t be controlled

Question 24

What does Seneca say about homoerotic relationships?

Answer 24

Homoerotic relationships are an indulgence of lust, there’s no hope of procreation

Question 25

What does Seneca not address/address about homosexuality?

Answer 25

Doesn't directly address homosexuality but possibly addresses Emperor Nero's crossdressing

Question 26

What does Seneca say about crossdressing?

Answer 26

"Does it not seem to you to be living against nature, those who change their clothes for women?"

Question 27

What does the e.g. of Hostios Quadra say about homosexuality?

Answer 27

Desire can get out control + its greedy for both genders bc he can't control his lust

Question 28

What does Seneca say in Letters to Morality about friendship?

Answer 28

The wise man doesn't need friends, but wants them

Question 29

What does Seneca say in letters to Morality about loving?

Answer 29

"If you want to be loved, then love"

Question 30

What is the analogy Seneca uses for giving in to desire?

Answer 30

When you give in to desire, you're creating a new wound in your soul: the more you give in, the more infected your soul becomes

Question 31

What does Seneca say about desire in 'Seneca on Anger'?

Answer 31

Our faces are a key indicator of any 'violent passion' including desire

Question 32

Why does Seneca think desire should be controlled?

Answer 32

So reason can rule

Question 33

What does Motto say about love?

Answer 33

Seneca maintained that love is rational + should be practiced often

Question 34

What does Seneca recognise?

Answer 34

The place of desire in the system because it's needed for reproduction

Question 35

What helps keeps desire controlled?

Answer 35

Reason and abstinence of alcohol

Question 36

What does Seneca say about animalism?

Answer 36

Our mind is what sets us apart from animals - so engaging in pleasure is animalistic

Question 37

What would desire do if it was good?

Answer 37

Place animals at the top of the hierarchy, then humans, then god

Question 38

What did Seneca say about slavery? Where did he say this?

Answer 38

Was appalled that Romans call anyone slaves when they themselves are 'slaves of their lust + gluttony' ~ On Benefits

Question 39

What was Seneca uncomfortable with?

Answer 39

Uncomfortable w slavery bc they're humans too

Question 40

What does Gloyn say?

Answer 40

Amor is rational + under control yet affectus must be avoided

Question 41

Who says Seneca maintained that love is rational + should be practised often?

Answer 41

Motto

Question 42

What is amor?

Answer 42

Rational, love of the soul + intellect

Question 43

What is affectus?

Answer 43

Irrational, love gone mad; the body

Question 44

Where does Seneca contradict?

Answer 44

At 1 point accepts desire as another appetite that needs to be satisfied e.g. thirst/hunger Elsewhere he disagrees

Question 45

What does Gloyn say Seneca aimed for?

Answer 45

A settled balanced existence"

Question 46

What does Seneca say desire is?

Answer 46

Condemns desire as a form of unnatural excess

Question 47

How do women take a rebellion against nature?

Answer 47

Female sexuality esp when women take a penetrative role in sex, dressing like men + masculine roles

Question 48

What does Seneca say about Hostios Quadra (quote)?

Answer 48

"His mirrors on every wall, so he could be the audience for his own outrageous crimes against nature"

Question 49

What does Seneca seem unconvinced by?

Answer 49

Unconvinced by the fact that reason can master passion

Question 50

What couple does Seneca refer to in 'On Marriage'?

Answer 50

The couple were so passionately in love w each other that they'd only drink from a shared cup + the man wore his wife's clothes in public

Question 51

What may "if you want to be loved, then love" reflect?

Answer 51

Reflects stoic need for clear self control; initiating a relationship means you can have more control over guiding it

Question 52

What does Seneca say the wise man shouldn't value?

Answer 52

The wise man shouldn't value anything external to himself, incl fam + friends "He considers everything good to be bounded within himself"

Question 53

What does Gloyn say about stoicism?

Answer 53

"Bc stoicism suggests that every human has an equal potential for virtue, there's a sense of gender equality at the heart of the philosophy"

Question 54

What does Gloyn say Seneca wanted to build?

Answer 54

Wanted to built lasting, not fleeting relationships