Download Exploration of three philosophers of the late stoic era

Exploration of three philosophers of the late stoic era
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Seneca was born in Córdoba, Spain around the year 3 BC. His father
was a famous teacher of Rhetoric in Rome. He was the second born son
of three in his family. He went to a school in Rome called Sextii, where
he was educated in philosophy, more specifically Stocism and ascetic
neo-Pythagoreanism. He developed a reputation for excellent public
speaking while in school. He later experienced illness, and journeyed to Egypt to recover.
He returned to Rome around the year 31 AD. He began a career in
politics and law. In Rome, he was also known for writing tragedies and
essays. In 39 AD, he fell out of favor, and in 41 AD he was exiled to
Corsica by Emperor Claudius for committing adultery with Claudius’s
niece, Princess Julia Livilla. While in Corsica, he studied philosophy
and natural sciences. During this period of time, he wrote the three treatises titled
Consolationes. He was invited back to Rome in 49 AD by the emperors wife, Agrippina .
In 50 AD, he married Pompeia Paulina, an influential woman . He then became a praetor.
He was appointed tutor to the future emperor Nero, the adopted son of Claudius. Seneca’s
enemies soon turned Nero against him, calling him a threat because of him wealth and
popularity. Although he was a Stoic and despised riches, he was still very wealthy. He
retired from public life in 62 AD so that he could devote his time to philosophy and
writing. in 65 AD he was accused of being part of a plot against Nero . He followed
emperors wishes and commited suicide.
Seneca thought of himself as being a stoic. His works were influenced
by “ Middle Stoicism.” His tragedies were very influential on western
literature. His techniques influenced the Renaissance tragedy. His plays
were meant to be read out loud, and not performed on a stage. He wrote
nine plays. They are Hercules Furens, Medea, Troades, Phaedra,
Agamemnon, Oedipus, Hercules Oetaeus, Phoenissae, and Thyestes.
“The philosopher: he alone knows how to live for himself. He is the one, in fact, who
knows the fundamental thing: how to live.” –Seneca
“Philosophy’s power to blunt all the blows of circumstance are beyond belief.”- Seneca
”Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.”-Seneca
Epictetus
55-135 AD
He was born in Hierapolis, Phrygia, which is in south-western
Turkey, in the year 55. He came to Rome when he was young as a
slave of Epaphroditus, who was once a slave to the emperor Nero.
Even when he was a slave, he spent most of his time studying
stoicism. He was believed to be tortured by his master, who was
said to have broken Epictetus’ leg, yet some believe this is not true,
and that Nero was kind to Epictetus and encouraged his work in
philosophy. In 89 he was banished from Rome, so he went to
Greece where he opened up his own school. His school had a good reputation, and
attracted many upper-class Romans. Epictetus did not marry, nor did he have children. It
is believed that he lived to a very old age, and lived a life of simplicity, staying true to his
stoicism.
Some people believe that Epictetus wrote nothing himself, and that
the works that were believed to be Epictetus’, were actually written
by a student of his. Epictetus stayed true to early stoics in his
teachings and beliefs, but his techniques of teaching were unique.
Epictetus metaphorically refers to his school as a hospital where
students come looking for treatments for their illness. He believed
everyone suffers from illness, and it is caused by mistaken beliefs
about what is good. Epictetus was possibly one of the greatest stoics there ever were.
“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.” – Epictetus
“What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit.
For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.”
-Epictetus
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was born as Marcus Annius Verus on April 26th 121 as
an only child to Domitia Lucilla and Marcus Annius Verus. His father
was a praeter, and died when Marcus Aurelius was only three years old.
Antoninus Pius, his father’s brother-in-law, adopted Marcus and
designated him to be his successor. This was when his name changed
from Marcus Annius Verus to Marcus Aurelius. He was tutored by the
best tutors in Rome, and was a loyal Stoic. A few years later he married Antoninus’s
daughter, Annia Galeria Faustina.
When Antoninius died, Marcus became the emperor of Rome, along with
Lucius Veras, Antoninus’ other successor. Many times during his reign,
Marcus was at war with several different peoples at one time. He solved
this problem by sending Veras to command troops, and Veras stayed
loyal to Marcus up until his own death. Marcus had one son Commodus.
He died on march 17, 180 in Viena . The cause of death was a plague.
Marcus believed no man could be hurt by another man, he can only hurt
himself. He believed that to live a happy life, you need wisdom, justice, fortitude, and
moderation.
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to
your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”- Marcus
Aurelius
Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one
yourself! – Marcus Aurelius
Very little is needed to make a happy life.- Marcus Aurelius