Unlike most thinkers, Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) spent as much time selling philosophy as doing philosophy. The reason is not hard to fathom. In his youth, he had fallen severely ill, only to realize that none of his friends or family members could give him the encouragement he needed.
Seneca had listened to their messages of support, but found them devoid of meaning. His friends and family members had good intentions, but their words were inconsistent, implausible and erratic. Instead of giving Seneca the philosophical support he needed, they only gave him platitudes.
After recovering his health, Seneca made philosophy his life mission; on the one hand, he spent decades identifying the best thinking patterns; on the other hand, he propagandized friends and family about living in accordance with reason.
Seneca’s passion for spreading philosophy fed on his desire to feel himself surrounded by thoughtful individuals. Wisdom possesses little value, he noted, if it’s not praised and practised assiduously.
The pursuit of wisdom, Seneca concluded, is the pursuit of an environment dominated by thoughtful, benevolent, rational, and kind individuals. Instead of regarding philosophy as a pure abstraction, Seneca considered it the most practical of skills.
Seneca’s dialogue “On the Benefits of Philosophy”
Shortly before his death, Seneca wrote the dialogue “On the Benefits of Philosophy” to defend the thesis that philosophy is delivering vast advantages to its practitioners. He was referring to high-quality friendships, the ability to cope effectively with setbacks, and a deeper enjoyment of life.
Seneca would use indistinctly the words “philosophy” and “wisdom,” giving a more abstract meaning to the former, and a more practical one to the latter. In all cases, he emphasised that the benefits drawn from philosophy cannot be purchased with money or coerced through violence.
Nobody can purchase the ability to cope effectively with setbacks because it is primarily a character trait. It takes years to acquire the virtues of alertness, prudence, equanimity, self-discipline and steadiness. Those constitute the prerequisites to make solid decisions in times of crises.
Seneca viewed virtue as “the only thing that renders us truly wealthy” because it renders us immune to fear, social pressure, anxiety and worry. Without a sound philosophical background, it is impossible to gather the strength to make difficult choices.
Amongst all examples provided by Seneca, I consider Titus Pomponius Atticus (110 BC-32 AD) the most relevant today. Why? Because Atticus displayed high levels of self-discipline, alertness and steadiness, three Stoic virtues that still determine who will prosper in life.
Seneca: the wisdom of Titus Pomponius Atticus
“Atticus” is the name given to Titus Pomponius by friends who admired his unusual decision to trust his own perceptions, and go against the opinions of practically everybody in society.
After receiving in his youth a solid introduction to Stoicism, Titus Pomponius could not help perceiving the rapid decline of Roman society. Political tension had peaked during the rule of Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), accompanied by generalized decay in mores, industry and the standard of living.
When Titus Pomponius turned twenty-five, he acquired title to his inheritance and concluded that things were not going to get any better in the foreseeable future. His friends and family members had decided to keep a low profile and wait for better times, but Titus Pomponius found their hopes unfounded.
He expected corruption, violence and poverty to spread, not to diminish. Everywhere he looked, there were warning signs. Catastrophic events were in the making. Threats were growing larger with every passing day.
Titus Pomponius was baffled by the fact that, apparently, he was the only one perceiving the present and clear danger. His friends and family members preferred to ignore reality and did not want to acknowledge the signs of social deterioration.
Seneca: Atticus as a prime example of Stoic virtue
Against all expectations, Titus Pomponius decided in 85 BC to liquidate his assets and leave Rome. He put up for sale every item he had, and was content to get whatever price the market would pay. His priority was to get out of Rome immediately. If he stayed any longer, he might not be able to escape at all.
Titus Pomponius relocated to Athens (Greece), taking with him the proceeds from the sale of his assets. The next decades proved him hundred percent right. The situation in Rome kept deteriorating. His friends and family members left behind were confronted with the dire consequences of their passivity.
For the next two decades, while Rome was going through severe upheavals, Titus Pomponius lived in Athens, enjoying great success. He started several businesses and prospered, and built himself a wide circle of friends.
Cicero (106-43 BC) called him “Atticus” to honour his good sense to relocate from Rome to Athens, and stay there until the situation had improved. Even when Titus Pomponius returned to Rome in the year 65 BC, he kept displaying high levels of alertness, self-discipline and steadiness.
Seneca deeply admired Atticus for his ability to make good choices in times of trouble. Stoicism, as a philosophical system and lifestyle, is geared to maximise our ability to behave like Atticus, steer away from trouble and enjoy the daily benefits of wisdom.
If you are interested in putting rational ideas into practice in all kinds of situations, I recommend my book “The Philosophy of Builders.”
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