Most philosophers get it wrong about revenge, and Seneca was no exception. In his essays titled “On Anger” and “On Clemency,” he recommended to forget injury and insult, and abandon the idea of revenge. Seneca gave extensive arguments against revenge when conceived as warlike. He said that, if we seek revenge, we’ll become “slaves to…

There is a perfect recipe for never getting angry or annoyed. If we stop caring and become indifferent, we won’t experience irritation when things don’t go our way. The problem with this recipe is that it will also destroy our motivation for achieving success and happiness. Seneca reflected extensively about the cause of anger and…

Instead of endless abstract discussions, I prefer philosophers to cut to the chase and give me an example of their theories. If the example is convincing, I may explore their theories further. On the other hand, if the example doesn’t make sense, I will no longer care what that philosopher claims to know. If a…

Virtue rewards, first and foremost, its practitioner. That was the reason for Aristotle to recommend virtues such as ambition and personal initiative. Seneca did not share the views of Aristotle on virtue because, for Seneca, achievement and success represent the exceptions in life, not the rule. In the 72nd Letter to Lucilius, Seneca explains his…

A linear view of human nature constitutes the weakest point of Seneca as a philosopher. He regarded humans as rational, but with a tendency to do too much or too little. If we want to prevent anxiety and worry, he theorized, we should embrace moderation in all things. Seneca considered anxiety and worry to be…