What is it about?
This book is the first extensive study of the role of the family in the work of Seneca. It offers a new way of reading philosophy that combines philosophical analysis with social, cultural and historical factors to bring out the ways in which Stoicism presents itself as in tune with the universe. The family serves a central role in an individual's moral development - both the family as conventionally understood, and the wider conceptual family which Stoicism constructs. Innovative readings of Seneca's work bring out the importance of the family to his thought and how it interacts with other Stoic doctrines. We learn how to be virtuous from observing and imitating our family, who can be biological relatives or people we choose as our intellectual ancestors.
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Why is it important?
This is the first study to put the family at the core of ancient philosophy and to explore whether these systems of thought can offer guidance on how to live morally in every-day life. My research finds that Seneca sees the family as a place where the aspiring Stoic can learn how to behave virtuously.
Perspectives
I've always felt that ancient philosophy offers systems of thought to explain the whole of the world, just parts of this; it made sense to me that the Stoics would have had something to say about the proper way to interact with one's family. This book let me explore what Seneca, one of our best sources for Roman Stoicism, thought about a philosophical framework for engaging with the family, and how that interacts with the rest of the Stoic project.
Dr Liz Gloyn
Royal Holloway University of London
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Ethics of the Family in Seneca, January 2017, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/9781316535820.
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