Seneca: The Literary Philosopher
A book excerpt courtesy of Prof. Margaret Graver
Below is an excerpt from Seneca: The Literary Philosopher, courtesy of author Margaret Graver and Cambridge University Press.
Seneca stands apart from other philosophers of Greece and Rome not only for his interest in practical ethics, but also for the beauty and liveliness of his writing. These twelve in-depth essays take up a series of interrelated topics in his works, from his relation to Stoicism, Epicureanism, and other schools of thought; to the psychology of emotion and action and the management of anger and grief; to letter-writing, gift-giving, friendship, and kindness; to Seneca's innovative use of genre, style, and humor. Recalling Socrates's critique of philosophical writing in Plato's Phaedrus, this volume gives particular attention to Seneca's ideas about the techniques of reading, writing, and study that make philosophy beneficial to the individual and to society. Clear explanations and careful translations make the volume accessible to a wide range of readers.
Prof. Graver is also an esteemed speaker at our upcoming virtual event, On Seneca: Anger, Fear, and Sadness on Saturday, August 19th at 12 pm EDT.
Seneca: The Literary Philosopher pp 204-207
The divide between writer and reader is a necessary consequence of the use of writing to reach a wide audience. In the language of the Letters on Ethics, what represents that gap is the Strait of Messina, that separates Italy from the province of Sicily where Lucilius serves as civil governor. In letter 45, Seneca again expresses his desire to meet with his pupil in person: “I’d send myself over to you if I could,” he writes (45.2). Like Ovid’s Leander, he imagines himself swimming the distance, heedless of danger—though in his case, old age makes the wish absurd rather than heroic:
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