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Original Title:	Epistulae morales ad Lucilium
ISBN:	0140442103 (ISBN13: 9780140442106)
Edition Language:	English

Letters from a Stoic Paperback | Pages: 256 pages

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Title	:	Letters from a Stoic
Author	:	Seneca
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Penguin Classics
Pages	:	Pages: 256 pages
Published	:	August 26th 2004 by Penguin Books (first published 64)
Categories	:	Philosophy. Nonfiction. Classics. History

Description In Favor Of Books Letters from a Stoic

The power and wealth which Seneca the Younger (c.4 B.C. - A.D. 65) acquired as Nero's minister were in conflict with his Stoic beliefs. Nevertheless he was the outstanding figure of his age. The Stoic philosophy which Seneca professed in his writings, later supported by Marcus Aurelius, provided Rome with a passable bridge to Christianity. Seneca's major contribution to Stoicism was to spiritualize and humanize a system which could appear cold and unrealistic.

Selected from the Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, these letters illustrate the upright ideals admired by the Stoics and extol the good way of life as seen from their standpoint. They also reveal how far in advance of his time were many of Seneca's ideas - his disgust at the shows in the arena or his criticism of the harsh treatment of slaves. Philosophical in tone and written in the 'pointed' style of the Latin Silver Age these 'essays in disguise' were clearly aimed by Seneca at posterity.

Rating Containing Books Letters from a Stoic

Ratings: 4.33 From 18692 Users | 849 Reviews

Criticism Containing Books Letters from a Stoic

One of the most profound books I've read. Seneca defines philosophy not as a system of logical rules for old men to argue about and rearrange, but as a means to prescribe a way of life. He sees a philosopher as a wise doctor who provides advice on the optimal way to live so as to be as happy as possible. With this goal in mind, Seneca wrote a series of letters to his close friend advising him on the many dangers of Roman social life circa the 1st century. He also advises his friend on practices

Stoics saw the world as one single great community and all men are brothers. A man should live in conformity with divine will which means 1, not only question convention and training the self to do without all except necessities, but developing inborn gift of reason which marks us off as different from the animal world; 2, resigning himself completely and uncomplainingly to whatever fate may send him.The ideal or goal of stoicism is called arete in Greek, virtus in Latin, and virtue is an

Along with his tragedies, treatises and longer dialogues, the philosopher Seneca wrote 124 letters addressed to his friend Lucilius. Whether these letters were actually sent is unknown, but their style indicates that they were intended for publication at some point. These letters are really mini-essays in disguise, discussing Senecas Stoic beliefs and his outlook on life in general. This collection contains about a third of Senecas surviving letters, some of which are abridged.For readers

Okay, I'm not good at reading something like this cover to cover -- it's thought-provoking but it takes me a while to just think over each letter. I keep this book on my nightstand and read it just one letter at a time, and sometimes weeks go by before I read another. But still, there's something astonishing about reading ideas that still apply so many centuries after Seneca wrote them. For example, he says, stay on one subject; if you fly from topic to topic, it's harder for your mind to work

I think if I were to ascribe to any worldview, I would choose Stoicism. Seneca is one of the reasons why. An eminently reasonable man who continually urges his young charge to self-examination through the light of reason. A fun read with profound insight.

Philosophy is good advice; and no one can give advice at the top of his lungs. One of the most persistent criticisms made of modern philosophy is that it isnt useful. The critics have a point. Modern philosophy largely concerns itself with a variety of theoretical problems. Even though many of these problems do have practical ramifications, many do not; and regardless, the debates can often get so technical, so heated, and so abstract, that it is difficult to see modern philosophy as the path

I tore this book to pieces. My copy is overflowing with tabbed pages and highlighted lines and notes in the margins. Seneca of course, is a fascinating figure. Gregory Hays once said about Marcus Aurelius that "not being a tyrant was something he had to work at one day at a time" and often, Seneca lost that battle. He was the Cardinal Richelieu behind Nero. He sat back and enjoyed the spoils of his student who had clearly lost his way--at least Aristotle didn't profit from Alexander's lust for