Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Seneca: His Character <strong>and</strong> Environment<br />
a hypocrite, a man whose pr<strong>of</strong>essions were belied by<br />
his actions. Still others. <strong>and</strong> they are largely in the<br />
majority<br />
are more lenient in their judgment; though<br />
they cannot exculpate him from inconsistencies, they<br />
excuse them by pointing to the extremely difficult posi<br />
tion in which he was placed during the greater part <strong>of</strong><br />
his life. He has strong partisans who are attracted<br />
<strong>and</strong> charmed by<br />
the sublime sentiments scattered<br />
so pr<strong>of</strong>usely through his writings; his enemies, in<br />
forming their opinions, lay the chief stress on what<br />
they regard as the inexcusable deeds <strong>of</strong> his life. It<br />
is too late to add anything to the evidence either pro<br />
or contra.<br />
All that it is proposed to do in this essay is<br />
to place before the reader a picture<br />
<strong>of</strong> the man,<br />
mainly from his own writings, as the chief exponent<br />
<strong>of</strong> the highest philosophy reached by the ancient<br />
world before this philosophy was supplanted by the<br />
new religion that was destined to take its place<br />
in the thought <strong>of</strong> mankind. Seneca was next<br />
to Cicero, or rather along with Cicero, the most<br />
distinguished Roman philosopher; but as a philos<br />
opher he has received the far greater share<br />
<strong>of</strong> attention. Both were Romans at heart; both<br />
were earnestly engaged in the search for the<br />
supreme good; both were guilty <strong>of</strong> conduct incon<br />
sistent with their pr<strong>of</strong>essions; both tried <strong>and</strong> tried<br />
in vain to combine a life devoted to reflection with<br />
with an active career in the service <strong>of</strong> the state; <strong>and</strong><br />
both failed. But Seneca not only had a higher ideal<br />
than Cicero; he also came nearer attaining<br />
it.<br />
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