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Seneca on living simply
Historians seldom remark that exoticism or strangeness add value to the advice of ancient philosophers. I mean exoticism and strangeness in the sense of “Vervremdung,” […]
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Productiveness and Seneca’s advice to live in accordance with nature
The ancient Roman Republican values can be illustrated by individuals like Cincinnatus or Scipio Africanus. Their actions embody valour, equanimity, and above all, productiveness. Cincinnatus […]
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Realism of Seneca’s advice to live in accordance with nature
It’s hypocritical to recommend poverty when one is wealthy, or to recommend passivity when one has displayed remarkable industriousness for decades. Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) […]
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Feasibility of Seneca’s advice to live in accordance with nature
Like most antique philosophers, Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) used grandiloquent terms to spice up his writings. For instance, he employed the words “cosmos” and “natural […]
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Seneca on living in accordance with nature
When taken out of context, philosophical statements prove misleading; when poorly defined, they become dangerous; and the more frequently they are repeated, the more dangerous […]
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Why Michel de Montaigne remains relevant today
Until recently, society used to hold old individuals in high regard. It was recognized that wisdom comes from experience, and that learning from other people’s […]
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Michel de Montaigne’s relevance today
Before devoting time to reading a classical work, it is fair to ask about its relevance today. Why should I devote my energy to reading […]
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Michel de Montaigne’s impact on French literature and cultural identity
In assessing cultural influences, I find it more conclusive to look at philosophical values than at anecdotes and artifices of style. Thinkers leave behind ethical […]
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Michel de Montaigne’s contribution to early modern philosophy
When asked about someone’s contribution to philosophy, I reply by giving a list of his innovations. I want to underline the new concepts that he […]
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Why Michel de Montaigne had no impact on early modern philosophy
I am always puzzled when I see historians or philosophers put forward theories for which the evidence is rather thin. Even if they write a […]
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Recent Posts
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