Seneca Scholarship

Question 1

Liz Gloyn (On the Stoics)

Answer 1

“The Stoics don’t say that we should get away from feeling emotions altogether, but instead argue we should … replace them with the eupatheiai..”
(Eupatheiai are caution, volition, and joy)

Question 2

Liz Gloyn (On marriage)

Answer 2

“Marriage is affection grounded in appreciation for each other’s potential virtue.”

Question 3

Anna Lydia Motto (On women)

Answer 3

“He treats these women with friendship and a gentle intimacy; yet he does not fail to urge them, like men, to strive for Stoic discipline..”

Question 4

Flygt (On Phaedra)

Answer 4

“The men and women in it, through flaws of character and lack of self-control, directly involve themselves and others in the consequences of their transgressions.”
(People’s downfalls are thanks to their own vice, not intervention from the gods)

Question 5

Liz Gloyn (On love and irrationality)

Answer 5

“Seneca believes it is possible to love another human being without giving in to irrationality.”

Question 6

Evenepoel (On passion in friendship)

Answer 6

”..there is no room for passion in friendship.”

Question 7

Liz Gloyn (On same sex love)

Answer 7

“The early Stoics were very comfortable with same sex love, provided it came from a mutual appreciation of each other’s virtue.”

Question 8

Anna Lydia Motto (On feminine luxury)

Answer 8

“We find Seneca often condemning feminine luxury and feminine lust..”