Morality - Part II

Appropriate and Correct

In response to the question ‘What is virtue?’, Seneca says “a true and immovable judgment” (Letter 71.32; tr. Inwood).¹

Today we pivot from Aristotle in ancient Greece, to the heirs of all Greeks wisdom—the Romans.

While Stoicism has its roots in the foundational language and concepts that came from the ancient Hellenistic schools of thought, it would blossom as a stand alone philosophy in and under Roman rule. This of course helped tremendously by the Philosopher King himself, Marcus Aurelius.

Another pillar of Stoic thought who lived in 1st Century Rome was a man by the name of Seneca. He had a vibrant—if not paradoxical—political career finding himself a trusted advisor for many in power, including the infamous Nero.

By some accounts, he was one of the wealthiest and most influential people of Rome in his day.

It isn’t surprising then, that his favored philosophy would become so popular among the Romans.

Seneca was known to live in two worlds, shall we say. He was known to be a rash,…