Philosopher Seneca: biography

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

Seneca is a philosopher, a talented speaker, distinguished by enviable eloquence, a writer whose works are the subject of close study. Seneca Jr. (as he was also called) is the author of many aphorisms and sayings.

Seneca (philosopher) - biography

Seneca, an ancient philosopher, was born in Cordoba (Spain) in the family of the Roman "horseman" and the famous orator Lucius Anneus Seneca. Seneca Sr. himself was engaged in the upbringing and education of his son, who inspired the boy with basic moral principles and paid great attention to the development of eloquence. A big mark in the child's life was left by his mother and aunt, who instilled in him a love of philosophy, which subsequently determined his life path. It should be noted that the father did not share the boy's aspirations, since he did not have a love for philosophy.

Living in Rome, the future philosopher Seneca, and at that time just Seneca Jr., was enthusiastically engaged in rhetoric, grammar and, of course, philosophy. He enthusiastically listened to the speeches of the Pythagoreans Sextius and Sotion, the Cynic Demetrius and the Stoic Attalus. Papyrius Fabian, who is respected by Seneca Sr., became his teacher.

The beginning of a political career

Deep philosophical and rhetorical knowledge allowed Seneca to successfully advance in the socio-political field. The Roman philosopher Seneca, at the very beginning of his public activity, acted as an attorney, later, with the assistance of his aunt, who married the influential Egyptian governor Vitrasius Pollio, he received a questura, which brought him the title of senator.

If it were not for the disease, then, most likely, the future Roman philosopher Seneca, following the example of his father, would have become a rhetorician. However, a serious illness that crippled him at the beginning of his career as a statesman prompted him to choose a different path. The disease turned out to be so painful and severe that it led Seneca to thoughts of suicide, which, fortunately, remained thoughts.

The next few years the philosopher Seneca spent in Egypt, where he was treated and engaged in writing natural science treatises. Life in Egypt, far from comfort, and studies in philosophy taught him to live a simple life. For some time he even refused to eat meat, but later retreated from the principles of vegetarianism.

Activities in the Senate

On his return, the philosopher Seneca enters the Senate, where he quickly gains fame as a talented orator, which arouses the jealous envy of the ruler of Rome, Caligula. The Roman philosopher Seneca spoke enthusiastically and expressively, possessed an enviable gift for eloquence and could easily captivate an audience that listened to him with bated breath. Caligula (see photo above), who could not boast of such a talent,felt a strong hatred for the philosopher. The envious and jealous Caligula in every possible way belittled Seneca's oratorical talent, which, however, did not prevent him from being successful with his fellow citizens.

Seneca's life path could have ended in 39, since Caligula intended to eliminate the brilliant orator, but one of the ladies of the court told the emperor that Seneca, suffering from consumption, would not live long.

About the same time, Seneca married, but the marriage, which brought him two sons, judging by the hints slipping in his writings, was unsuccessful.

Link to Corsica

At the beginning of the reign of Claudius, the most insidious and unpredictable enemy of the philosopher was the wife of the emperor Messalina, who hated Julia Livilla (Claudius' niece) and persecuted Seneca for the support provided to the supporters of the Caligula sisters, who fought with Messalina for influence on the ruler. The intrigues of Messalina brought the philosopher to the dock, where he appeared before the Senate as an accused (according to one version) of a love affair with Julia. The intercession of Claudius saved his life, the death pen alty was replaced with a link to the island of Corsica, where Seneca, an ancient Roman philosopher and writer, remained for almost 8 years.

The exile was incredibly difficult for him, even considering that he could devote a lot of time to philosophical reflection and writing. This is confirmed by the flattering appeals that have come down to us to persons with influence at the imperial court, in which he asked to commute the sentence and return him to his homeland. Howeverhowever, he was able to return to Rome only after the death of Messalina.

Return to politics

Thanks to the efforts of Agrippina, the young wife of Emperor Claudius, Seneca returned to Rome and again plunged into politics. The Empress saw him as a tool to make her ambitious plans come true. Thanks to her efforts, the philosopher Seneca led the praetor and became the tutor of the young Nero, her son. That time can be considered the rise of his power, which he multiplied after the death of the benefactor as one of Nero's advisers, who bestowed honors and the highest trust on the teacher.

The funeral speech given by the young Nero in memory of the deceased Claudius belongs to his pen. Subsequently, Seneca wrote speeches for the emperor for all occasions, for which he was highly appreciated. His marriage to Pompeia Paulina not only increased his we alth and influence, but also brought him happiness.

Reign of Nero

The beginning of Nero's reign turned out to be calm for Seneca, given that at that time he enjoyed an inexhaustible credit of trust from the emperor, who listened to his advice. Historians believe that the generosity of Nero, demonstrated by him in the first years of his reign, is the merit of Seneca. The famous philosopher kept him from atrocities and other manifestations of intemperance, however, fearing to lose influence on the emperor, he encouraged a tendency to debauchery.

In the fifty-seventh year, Seneca was awarded the post of consul. By that time itthe fortune reached 300 million sesterces. Two years later, Nero forces Seneca to indirectly participate in the murder of Agrippina. Her death caused a split in the relationship between the emperor and the philosopher, who could not accept the fact that he was forced to participate in such a dishonorable and unnatural act. Later, the philosopher writes a hypocritical speech for Nero justifying this crime.

Relations with the emperor are steadily deteriorating. The intrigues of rivals, who pointed out to the ruler the danger of concentrating huge we alth in the hands of one person and drew Nero's attention to the respectful attitude of fellow citizens towards Seneca, led to sad consequences - the first adviser fell out of favor and, under the pretext of poor he alth, retired from the court, giving all the state to Nero. Later, fearing the progressive tyranny of the emperor, who refused his request to retire to a secluded estate, he closed himself in a room, saying he was ill.

Death of Seneca

The conspiracy of Piso, who intended to take Nero's life, played a tragic role in the fate of the philosopher. Spiteful critics accused Seneca of participating in a conspiracy, presenting the emperor with a false note, assuring him of the betrayal of the old teacher. By order of the emperor, Seneca opened his veins and ended his days surrounded by family, friends and admirers of his talent.

The philosopher Seneca passed away without groaning and fear, as he preached in his teaching. His wife wanted to follow her husband, but the emperor kept her from committing suicide.

Seneca - speaker

Seneca stayed inmemory of friends and admirers as an incredibly intelligent, versatile educated person, thinker and philosopher, a genius of eloquence, a brilliant orator and a witty interlocutor. Seneca masterfully mastered his voice, possessed an extensive vocabulary, thanks to which his speech flowed evenly and smoothly, without excessive pathos and pomposity, conveying to the interlocutor or listener what the philosopher wanted to tell him. Brevity and expressiveness, inexhaustible wit and rich imagination, inimitable elegance of presentation - this is what distinguished him from other speakers.

Literary works

Seneca's fame as a writer is based on prose works, where he expressed his thoughts, acting as a philosopher, writer and moralist. As a famous orator and possessing a magnificent, if somewhat ornate style, he was considered the first literary figure of his time and gained many imitators. His literary works were criticized by the followers of Cicero and archaists, nevertheless, the writings of Seneca were valued and studied until the Middle Ages.

Philosophical views of Seneca

Seneca considered himself a Stoic, however, according to scientists, his philosophical views are closer to eclecticism. This is primarily evidenced by the tolerance with which he treated the weaknesses and vices of people. Seneca's stoicism implied the inner freedom of the individual, condescension to human passions and weaknesses, uncomplaining submission to the divine will. The philosopher believed that the body is just a dungeon from which the soul breaks free and gains true life,leaving him.

Seneca expounded his philosophical views in the form of sermons. Twelve diatribes (small treatises), three large treatises, several epigrams, nine tragedies, which were based on mythical plots and a political pamphlet dedicated to the death of Emperor Claudius, were left as a legacy to mankind. Only fragments of speeches written for Nero have survived to our time.