Letters from a Stoic - Couverture souple

Seneca

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1420948385 ISBN 13 : 9781420948387

Editeur : Digireads.com, 2013

Synopsis

In ancient Rome, Seneca the Younger rose to power as a politician and statesman during the middle of his life. After being exiled by Emperor Caligula, he was finally welcomed back to Rome as Nero's minister. He gained significant wealth, though Seneca often despised his own standing because of his personal philosophy. At the end of his life, Seneca wrote a number of letters to the Roman governor of Sicily. From this collection of letters comes "Letters from a Stoic." In this work, the philosopher wrote about the essential tenants of Stoicism and how to follow a philosophy that required a person to humanize a society that was often cold and difficult. Many people read these letters and come away with a greater understanding of Stoicism; the people who practiced Stoicism often lived the phrase "actions speak louder than words," meaning that Stoics wanted their deeds to exhibit their rational and calm nature. The texts in "Letters from a Stoic" also reveal how Seneca and his contemporaries wanted people to treat others with the same respect they wanted for themselves. He was disgusted with the harsh and unethical treatment of slaves that was prevalent at the time, and he was against Nero's idea of entertainment which entailed throwing martyrs, gladiators, and animals into a fighting arena. Although Stoicism is not now as widely practiced as it once was, many people can still find wisdom and inspiration through Seneca's words and letters.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

This edition of Seneca's Epistles unites all 124 of the letters in a single volume, complete with thorough explanatory notes, an appendix, and an index of the names referred to in the text. The entirety of this compendium was penned by Seneca during his retirement and sent to his friend Lucilius Junior, a procurator of Sicily. At this late stage of life, Seneca held great experience in matters of both philosophy and governance, having served under the Emperor Nero for fifteen years. Despite the conversational tone present in many of Seneca's epistles, it isn't entirely clear whether Seneca actually corresponded with Lucilius. It is possible that Seneca simply wished to write a fictional correspondence so as to experiment with the form, possibly recreating how he might wisely explain certain ideas or concepts to individuals. It is in his Epistles that Seneca demonstrates his philosophical clout: topics range from how to behave virtuously, how to approach death, how to consider drunkenness, how philosophy is practical and relevant to living, and how travel can be a salve to the trials of everyday living. The opinions of Seneca are generally supported by examples, logical argument, or rooted in his long experiences of life and learning. Seneca's letters are valuable for shedding light on a variety of disciplines as they were in classical antiquity. The jargon surrounding medicine, law, and navigation at sea show a culture where professions had developed greatly. The social aspect of Roman life, how people recreated, and what things were held in high regard are also much discussed, while prominent figures such as Publilius Syrus are quoted by Seneca in support of his points or topics. The quotation: Vita sine litteris mors - 'Life without learning [is] death' - is derived from the 82nd epistle, and remains the motto for several educational institutions around the world.

Biographie de l'auteur

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, statesman, philosopher, advocate and man of letters, was born at Cordoba in Spain around 4 BC. He rose to prominence in Rome, pursuing a career in the courts and political life, for which he had been trained, while also acquiring celebrity as an author of tragedies and essays. Falling foul of successive emperors (Caligula in AD 39 and Claudius in AD 41), he spent eight years in exile, allegedly for an affair with Caligula’s sister. Recalled in AD 49, he was made praetor and was appointed tutor to the boy who was to become, in AD 54, the emperor Nero. On Nero’s succession, Seneca acted for some eight years as an unofficial chief minister. The early part of this reign was remembered as a period of sound government, for which the main credit seems due to Seneca. His control over Nero declined as enemies turned the emperor against him with representations that his popularity made him a danger, or with accusations of immorality or excessive wealth. Retiring from public life he devoted his last three years to philosophy and writing, particularly the Letters to Lucilius. In AD 65 following the discovery of a plot against the emperor, in which he was thought to be implicated, he and many others were compelled by Nero to commit suicide. His fame as an essayist and dramatist lasted until two or three centuries ago, when he passed into literary oblivion, from which the twentieth century has seen a considerable recovery.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Digireads.com
• Date d'édition: 2013
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1420948385
• ISBN 13: 9781420948387
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 348
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible