Seneca Letters From A Stooic Analysis

Seneca: Letters from a Stoic What importance does philosophy have? In the book, Seneca: Letters from a Stoic, Seneca wrote the letters to his friend Lucilius, on the importance of philosophy and its use in life. There are three significant questions that can decipher Seneca's meaning on philosophy. The first significant question that can decipher Seneca's meaning on philosophy is: What is Seneca's ideal of the philosopher? The ideal philosopher is one who seeks wisdom and joy throughout life. The philosophers life is grounded and moulded upon wisdom and virtues. "It moulds and builds the personality, orders one's life, regulates one's conduct..."(Letters XVI, pg. 64). A philosopher does not just merely contemplate the virtues, but also applies them to his or her lifestyle. For what good is having a sword but only to admire its appearance and beauty and not using it for its actual use? In being a philosopher, that person is the one who stands out from the crowd because of the way they lead his or her life based upon the virtues they have acquired. "It is philosophy that has the duty of protecting us... without it no one can lead a life free of fear or worry."(Letters XVI, pg. 64). The philosopher receives the duty which philosophy has to produces as guidance for life's journey. …show more content…
The main focus is to approach death calmly and without anxiety. Seneca's advise to familiarize yourself with death for nobody can predict whether or not he or she will be alive the next day. "Anyway, here's whaat I do: I imagine to myself that the testing time is drawing near..."(Letters XXVI, pg. 71). "It is a very good thing to familiarize oneself with death."(Letters XXVI, pg. 72). What practicing what dying is like is frankly to "Expect the