For modern readers, Stoicism is hard to understand because our century is vastly different from the early Roman Empire. It is easy for us to read the writings of Seneca, but his words do not make any sense in the present context.
What has changed so drastically? The opportunities open to individuals. Today, each person can pursue self-development to an extent that Seneca couldn’t have conceived. We have ample possibilities to learn, work and define our own lifestyle.
Seneca assumed that individuals can seldom build a better life for themselves. He viewed social and economic constraints as unassailable. He regarded happiness as unworkable in the long term, and advised us to focus on reducing our misery.
Human nature has not changed since Seneca’s lifetime, but it makes a big difference whether humans live in a favourable or unfavourable environment.
Obstacles to understanding Seneca’s philosophy
I would compare Seneca’s historical context to living as an animal in a zoo. If we see an antelope in a zoo, we will not be able to grasp how antelopes live in the wilderness. Without that knowledge, it would be rather pointless to tell antelopes what to eat, where to sleep, or how to heal a broken leg.
Seneca examined life in the early Roman Empire and noted that most humans lived in physical poverty and psychological misery; he also noted that, even the most successful people, are often victims of a reversal of fortune.
In his 28th Letter to Lucilius, Seneca even advises readers to give up any attempts to improve their situation by travelling. It isn’t worth it, he says, to seek a better lifestyle by moving from the city to the countryside, or from the countryside to the city.
Seneca’s recommendation is to “change our mentality” and remain in the same location. He regards the environment as a secondary factor because he didn’t expect the city to offer more professional opportunities than a village, although at the cost of a high-pressure lifestyle.
It is obvious that Seneca’s assumptions do not apply in our century; the context has changed enormously and location does make a difference. Nonetheless, the changed assumptions don’t invalidate the core of Seneca’s philosophy.
Seneca’s philosophy in today’s context
The 28th Letter to Lucilius enunciates a central principle of Seneca’s, namely, that we can increase our effectiveness and happiness if we achieve peace of mind; the Letter argues that it is better to acquire serenity than expect a new location to cure our preoccupations.
Understanding Seneca today is only possible if we look into his ideas without getting distracted with his assumptions; that’s the only way to benefit from his important insights; it would be foolish to forego his great wisdom due to the historical gap.
It was perfectly rational for Seneca to question the benefits of relocating from Athens (Greece) to Alexandria (Egypt). The lifestyle in those cities was similar in the early Roman Empire.
The same can be said if we compare the lifestyle in Naples (Italy) and Cordoba (Spain) in the times of Emperor Claudius (10-54 AD). Seneca couldn’t see a lot of difference because the lifestyle was indeed similar.
His advice to focus on serenity remains valid nonetheless. If we can increase our professional opportunities by relocating, it shouldn’t prevent us from cultivating equanimity and other key virtues. Why not enjoy the benefits of the relocation and those of Seneca’s philosophy?
Perennial benefits of Seneca’s philosophy
Seneca was correct in affirming that emotional problems are often caused by “our own character,” not by our circumstances. For this reason, we can’t solve those types of problems simply by relocating.
The 54th Letter to Lucilius elaborates this principle further. I regard this letter as a summary of Seneca’s wisdom because he wrote it a few months before his death. Seneca was fairly ill at that time and struggling to maintain his serenity.
Remembering an asthma attack he had suffered in the past, Seneca determined to let go of his apprehension and focus on enjoying each day. He was applying Stoic philosophy, which calls for maintaining one’s peace of mind in the face of adversity.
Seneca’s access to therapeutic help was relatively narrow if we compare with today’s possibilities. Today, we have access to wider and better technology, but this fact does not invalidate Seneca’s recommendation.
Once again, I must point out that the historical context has changed, but human nature remains the same. Seneca was right in regarding his illness as “an opportunity to increase his own resilience.” I consider his advice as a lesson of perennial value.
Seneca’s philosophy and Pierre Bayle
If we exercise ourselves in adapting Seneca’s philosophy to the present context, we’ll be able to draw maximum benefit. To this end, I recommend reading the works of the French thinker Pierre Bayle (1647-1706) about how to adapt Seneca’s ideas to one’s own century.
Like Seneca, Bayle was in favour of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, but found himself prosecuted in his own country. Bayle’s prosecution was based on religious reasons.
Bayle had been a Calvinist most of his life, but after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, he was confronted with a hostile environment in France. He was familiar with the works of Seneca and pondered whether he should flee France.
Seneca may have stayed put and suffered the consequences, but Bayle decided otherwise. He viewed the context as crucial to his personal and professional development. Even if he made vast efforts to protect his peace of mind, he might still be killed if he remained in France.
I’m convinced that Bayle made the right decision in fleeing France and relocating to The Netherlands. He settled down in Rotterdam and was able to keep working on his “Philosophical Commentary” and his “Critical historical dictionary,” two large works that he might not have accomplished otherwise.
Bayle was an expert in Seneca’s philosophy and contributed to bringing it closer to modern readers. I particularly value his efforts in applying Seneca’s Stoicism to situations of clear and present danger.
Understanding Seneca’s philosophy requires steady efforts, but it’s an excellent investment. It can help us practise virtue in difficult circumstances, prevent short-sighted decisions, and make the best of each day in good and bad times.
If you are interested in putting rational ideas into practice in all kinds of situations, I recommend my book “On becoming unbreakable.”
Related articles
Seneca’s principles for thriving in life
Misunderstandings about Seneca’s ideas