Among the best known Roman philosophers, Lucius Annaus Seneca (rules annaeus) is arguably the most influential. Born in Rome in 65 CE, his life represents an example of how philosophy can be both theoretical and practical. Born in a family that included one very prominent philosopher, Seneca experienced early exposure to the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. As he grew up, however, he rejected the Roman classics and took a stand against what he saw as excessive intellectualization of things. The most commonly cited of his works are his treatise on the best way to lead a peaceful and useful life and his treatise on the nature of justice. In his treatise on the nature of justice, he argues that the ideal government would be one that does not sacrifice justice to some abstract or universal principle.
In his book On the Elegance of Life, he introduces several different philosophies, all of which have their roots in Stoicism, though he develops them in different ways. One of these is his belief that virtue is the only thing desirable. Because of this, he criticizes philosophy as focusing too much on the intellectual and emotional aspects of people. Because this criticism of philosophy comes from his personal experience, it is often controversial. Many philosophers, including Seneca, put Stoicism in a distinctly negative light, especially when they contrast the discipline with Greek history, which is largely a form of idealism. Still, despite these differences, there are several common threads in the work.
One of these is the belief that all things, including human beings, are made up of elements of body and mind. All of these elements combine to create the entire person, the will, so to speak. The fundamental doctrines of Stoicism, which Seneca adopts in his own writing, are that virtue leads to happiness leads to virtue, which in turn creates virtue in the will. This creates a dialect between the natural and artificial, man made and nature.
Another theme is that philosophy is nothing more than opinion. Everything in the world has a cause and effect, and all of these effects are part of an overall theme. Man is part of nature, so everything around him can affect him in one way or another, whether it be good or bad. Thus, a person must try to understand both the natural and the philosophical themes present in their life to try and make the best decisions possible. As Seneca points out, it is important not to commit suicide because one may regret such actions later.
The theme that philosophy is nothing but opinion is carried throughout the works of Seneca. For example, when he is dealing with those who seem to have lost their bearings, Seneca asks what it was that caused these individuals to stray from the path of the right. His answer was simple; they were either ignorant of it themselves, or else they were influenced by some ‘motive of self-interest’. In his earliest writings, when he is only known as Marcus, Seneca repeatedly uses the word “amor,” or passion, in order to describe the drive that is possessed by some people. This can be either personal, such as sexual passion, or religious, such as in his letter to the Roman woman Junius.
In his political writings, Seneca deals with issues of taxation. Lucilius, the younger brother of Lucilius, complains that the plebeians, or common people, were demanding higher taxation from the emperor, in order to fund public works. When asked why he is making such a complaint, Lucilius states that because the plebeians are poor people who need a guardian. In the books of Lucilius, Seneca makes quite similar arguments, claiming that those who are rich are unable to properly care for their children, or are too lenient with criminals, and so need an enlightened government.
It was under the reign of Tiberius that the infamous Tiberius became the first Roman Emperor. Though born in Rome, Tiberius was actually of Greek descent, and so was an uncle of Julius Caesar, whom he avenged when Caesar killed his brother Messalina. The title “emperors” was meant to associate Tiberius with the kings of ancient days, rather than his being a new emperor. The two sides of the coin were similar. Though he reigned for ten years, his rule was marked by a series of wars with the barbarians of the east.
The war with the Rhinemides, in which Tiberius sided with the enemy, brought a severe defeat to the Roman legions, and ended with a severe backlash against the Roman culture. After the defeat at the hands of the enemy, Lucilius returned home and established a philosophical center in the Roman household, named after himself. His philosophy centered on a vision of man as rational, powerful and immortal. Although skeptical about the religious foundations of Stoicism, he nevertheless took part in the worship of the Aesir deities. When he died, his remains were buried in the Campus, the sacred area devoted to the goddesses. Later, in the second century AD, his statues were found in the temple of Artemis Agrotera, near the Temple of Hercules in Rome.