SENECA THE

YOUNGER
Ben Owens
He Was Very Handsome
Who Was He?
Seneca the Younger was born in 4 BCE in Corduba, Spain. He died at the age of 65 in
Rome, Italy.
He was the second son of Seneca the Elder. Seneca the Elder was a well-known
teacher of Rhetoric in Rome. His mother, Helvia, was very well educated as well.
His older brother, Gallio, met St. Paul the Apostle, and his younger brother went on the
father the poet Lucan.
Although born in Spain, Seneca the Younger was taken to Rome as young boy.
In Rome he became a student of oratory skills and philosophy. He was taught in the
schools of the Sextii. This school taught a mix of Stoicism and Neo-Pythagoreanism.
However, while in Rome, Seneca the Younger fell ill. He was taken to Egypt to recover,
and did not return to Rome until 31 CE.
Who Was He?
Unfortunately for Seneca the Younger, he was dislike by the Emporer Claudius, and was
banished from Rome to Corsica.
While in Corsica Seneca the Younger continued his educating in natural science and
philosophy. He also married a wealthy woman named Pompeia Paulina, and
surrounded himself with a group of powerful friends.
Seneca the Younger found himself in the midst of important people. One of these was
Sextus Afranius Burrus, who was the new prefect of the guard. Another was Nero.
Seneca the Younger tutored Nero, who later became emporer.
Luckily for Seneca the Younger Claudius was murder in 54 CE, allowing him and Burrus
to gain a large amount of power. Nero became emporer, and Seneca the Younger
and Burrus were two of his chief advisors.
They helped implement fiscal and judicial reforms, as well as shifting policy to treat
slaves more humanely.
Who Was He?
Burrus died in 62. Because he and Seneca the Younger were such close
friends, Seneca the Younger did not feel that he could continue in public life.
He retired, and wrote some incredible philosophical works in his down time.
In 65 a group of Senecas enemies conspired to spread the rumor that he had
been part of Pisos plot to murder Nero.
Because of this, Seneca the Younger was ordered to commit suicide.
He met his death with fortitude and composure.
Man, what a way to go.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lucius-Annaeus-Seneca-Roman-philosopher-and-statesman
Seneca the Younger and Nero
Moral Letters to Lucilius
While exiled in Corsica, Seneca the Younger wrote a series of 124 letters to a Roman
knight named Lucilius.
The letters did not tend to focus on specific items of importance between the two men,
but rather about general philosophical ideas.
The letters essentially laid out Seneca the Youngers blueprint for how to live life.
He covered topics that would have been very abstract at the time. He pushed for the
equality of the sexes. He was adamant that marriage was sacred. He even wanted to
treat slaves better, almost as equals.
Seneca the Younger also covered day to day philosophy. He maligned those who
wasted time, and wrote that in order to overcome ones biggest fears they have to
confront them head on and experience them. He believed that it is okay to have
worries and fears, but they should not govern ones will to experience life.
Additionally, he spent a good deal of time professing the benefits of individualism and
rational thinking.

http://www.maxmednik.com/home/notes-on-moral-letters-to-lucilius-vol-1-by-seneca
Moral Letters to Lucilius
Seneca the Younger was known as a Stoic. Stoicism was his way of life.
His letters were based on how a Stoic views the world. He placed a great deal of
importance on philosophy itself: Philosophy molds and builds the personality, orders one's
life, regulates one's conduct, shows one what one should do and what one should leave
undone, sits at the helm and keeps one on the correct course as one is tossed about in
perilous seas. Without it no one can lead a life free of free or worry. Every house of the day
countless situations arise that call for advice, and for that advice we have to look to
philosophy. (letter 16)
He disdained people who sought to live there life by a philosophy but did not actually study
philosophy.
Seneca the Youngers Stoic ideals were fairly straight forward. He preached against excess
in every aspect of life. He warned that allowing ones self to swept up in crowd mentality is
dangerous, and that individualism is of paramount importance. He believed that people
should generally adopt a quiet, noble, and intellectual disposition.
For Seneca the Younger, happiness was achieved not through material goods or external
forces. Rather, it comes from practicing philosophy and restricting yourself from temptations
that will negatively impact your disposition.
Letter 2
In his second letter to Lucilius, Seneca the Younger writes that, It is not the man who has too
little who is poor, but the one who hankers after more.
It is clear that he believed that one should not strive for exorbitances, and those who do are
actually the most empty.
The quest for more and more will only leave one emptier. Its essentially the old timey way of
saying money cant buy happiness
Later in the letter he wrties that, You ask what is the proper limit to a person's wealth? First,
having what is essential, and second, having what is enough.
It is clear he is humble, and preaches humility to Lucilius.
Although an important man, Seneca the Younger understood that having too much can
lead to a degradation of character.
He believes that if someone is always after something more, they never have time to focus
on what they actually have.
Letter 15
In the 15th letter Seneca the Younger writes that, Without wisdom the mind is sick, and the
body itself, however physically powerful, can only have the kind of strength that is found in
persons in a demented or delirious state. So this is the sort of healthiness you must make your
principal concern. You must attend to the other sort as well, but see that it takes second
place.
This shows that he believes mind should be placed over body. This falls in line with his general
disposition. He believes that everyone should study philosophy, and therefore they need to
take proper care of the mind. Though, he does understand that physcial exercise is
important too.
He also wrties that, There are short and simple exercises which will tire the body without
undue delay and save what needs especially close accounting for, time. There is running,
swinging weights about and jumping... Pick out any of these for ease and
straightforwardness. But whatever you do, return from body to mind very soon.
Even when it comes to exercise, Seneca the Younger preaches a measured approach. He
feels that it is wasteful to come up with elaborate exercise routines. They waste time. One
should not do more physical exercise than what is necessary to keep the body healthy and
in tact. This takes away from what is most valuable to us, time. Time that could be used
studying more philosophy, and sharpening the mind.
Letter 26
Letter 26 further emphasizes the importance of time.
He writes that, It's only when you're breathing your last that the way you've spent your
time will become apparent.
Letter 16
Letter 16 focuses on how wisdom and knowledge are the keys to happiness.
No one can lead a happy life, or even one that is bearable, without the pursuit of
wisdom, and that the perfection of wisdom is what makes the happy life, although
even the beginnings of wisdom make life bearable.
The quote I put in a previous slide about the importance of philosophy also comes from
this letter.
For Seneca the Younger, knowledge is not only power, knowledge is life. Without it, one
cannot truly live. They may be alive, but they are not living to the extent they could be.
Without it not only will be they be less prepared to interpret the world around them,
they will by less inclined to enjoy what life has to offer.
Seneca the Younger
He was a pretty cool guy.