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:<br />
His Character <strong>and</strong> Environment<br />
knowing what is before him. The best thought <strong>of</strong><br />
the age clearly proves that Greek philosophy had, in<br />
a sense, prepared a few noble minds for the reception<br />
<strong>of</strong> the ethical <strong>and</strong> altruistic precepts <strong>of</strong> the Gospel;<br />
but it was in no sense the harbinger <strong>of</strong> its spiritual<br />
doctrines.<br />
It remains yet to consider briefly an institution<br />
which, while not peculiar to Rome, was, nevertheless,<br />
here characterized by some features that were unique<br />
in their influences for evil. Slavery rested like a<br />
horrible incubus upon the ancient world, though few<br />
persons seem to have been aware <strong>of</strong> it. It placed a<br />
curse upon labor <strong>and</strong> almost prevented the develop<br />
ment <strong>of</strong> the mechanic arts. It seriously impeded the<br />
growth <strong>of</strong> the moral sentiments by the hindrances it<br />
placed in the way <strong>of</strong><br />
portunities it afforded the basely<br />
free discussion, <strong>and</strong> by the op<br />
inclined for the<br />
gratification <strong>of</strong> carnal lusts. It placed a large part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the population virtually beyond the range <strong>of</strong> hu<br />
man sympathy by br<strong>and</strong>ing the expression <strong>of</strong> such<br />
sympathy as a symptom <strong>of</strong> treason. While it did<br />
these things everywhere, in Rome it made a people<br />
that were naturally coarse <strong>and</strong> brutal still more so,<br />
by placing within the easy reach <strong>of</strong> every slave-owner<br />
helpless objects upon which he could vent his rage,<br />
<strong>and</strong> whose services lie could exploit in the most un<br />
feeling manner. A lurid light is thrown on the bar<br />
barity <strong>of</strong> the Romans toward their slaves by an oc<br />
currence that took place in the later years <strong>of</strong> Seneca.<br />
A plain statement <strong>of</strong> the facts is more impressive<br />
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