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 />
omitted such biographical data as may be found in<br />
any encyclopedia, <strong>and</strong> have confined myself chiefly<br />
to n study <strong>of</strong> the society in which Seneca moved,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to a consideration <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the leading char<br />
acteristics <strong>of</strong> the age in which lie lived. Every man<br />
should be judged by<br />
his times, for no man is unin<br />
fluenced by them. It is only men <strong>of</strong> the strongest<br />
character that rise far above the manners <strong>and</strong><br />
thoughts <strong>of</strong> their contemporaries. Seneca was not<br />
one <strong>of</strong> these. Though endowed with a penetrating<br />
intellect <strong>and</strong> strong moral convictions he sometimes<br />
yielded to temptations against the protest<br />
<strong>of</strong> his<br />
better judgment. He compelled his intellect to<br />
sanction or at least to excuse conduct that he felt to<br />
be unworthy <strong>of</strong> the philosophy he pr<strong>of</strong>essed <strong>and</strong><br />
taught. Yet after making<br />
all due allowance for his<br />
shortcomings. I am persuaded that one cannot<br />
long study his writings <strong>and</strong> his career without<br />
reach<br />
ing the conviction that among the great men <strong>of</strong><br />
Rome none towered above him in moral gr<strong>and</strong>eur<br />
<strong>and</strong> but few surpassed him in intellectual stature.<br />
If I may be allowed to express a personal opinion<br />
I do not hesitate to affirm that in the first thous<strong>and</strong><br />
years <strong>of</strong> its history no more interesting <strong>and</strong> attrac<br />
tive character lived <strong>and</strong> died in the City<br />
Seven Hills than the philosopher Seneca.<br />
<strong>of</strong> the<br />
The following is a list <strong>of</strong> Seneca s extant works:<br />
De Providentia, (On Providence).<br />
De Constantia Sapient is, (On the Constancy <strong>of</strong> the Sage).<br />
De Ira, (On Anger).<br />
De Vita beata. (On a happy life).<br />
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