Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

"
Seneca: His Character and Environment
goal, considered solely from the standpoint
of his
earthly life, it is evident that he will act differently
in the same circumstances from him whose aim is the
good of society considered as an undying entity, or
the happiness of the individual regarded as an im
mortal soul. The disagreements of philosophers have
always hinged on these fundamental problems and
it is strange that so little note has been made of
them. It is too often taken for granted that the
mere use of the reasoning faculties, that is. philoso
phy per se, and without reference to the highest
good, is able to make men as nearly perfect as they
can become in this life, both as individuals and as
members of the community. It was the conviction
that philosophy had run its course; that it was
played out,"
to use a phrase more expressive than
elegant that made so many of the best men, in the
first Christian centuries, turn from it and seek refuge
in Christianity. They had become weary of the
ceaseless and acrimonious discussions of
the different
philosophical schools. Disgusted with contradictions
and inconsistencies, they turned to the Gospel as
offering a solution of problems at which so many acute
thinkers had labored for centuries in vain.
It has often been remarked that the Roman world
had grown old. Every experiment had been tried,
every theory had been suggested that might
lead to
complete living; all had ended in failure and disap
pointment for those who had the good of their fellow
men at heart. He who would perform a successful
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