Seneca's dialogue with Serenus, more of an essay than a dialogue, is essentially comprised of the many tenets of Stoic morals and virtues. Seneca explains to Serenus how to maintain a tranquil mind, and in doing so runs down the 13 or so high points of Stoic doctrine.
One of the newer points was doing whatever you can to be productive and helpful. I suppose this could be inferred from more established Stoic literature, but I liked the particular exhortations on the subject of Seneca to Serenus. Essentially, one should always do what they can, regardless of the hand they are dealt. If only everyone would act in this way. I think you would see many more volunteers, at least.
A few pages later, Seneca reemphasizes that adversity grows character, indeed it is essential to our well-being. We should be thankful that habit allows us to become accustomed to adversity, allowing us to withstand it. I am not sure this is always a good thing. The way Seneca writes, it seems he had in mind perhaps a slave, who gradually becomes used to his restraints and becomes more productive and receptive of orders. However, habit could also be used maliciously. Complacency is certainly a negative possession of the mind, and allows a man to become inured to offenses against him. Habit, while it can be good, also allows man to grow weary of fighting for virtue; not all right action and judgement can be instilled once in the form of a virtue and forgotten about. Much must be fought for continuously; complacency forces some men into accepting bad as good.
Towards the end, Seneca writes that man should not always look to advance his station, but is justified in turning to entertainment at times. There is certainly an argument to be made that entertainment refreshes the mind and allows it to replenish itself. Seneca goes so far as to advocate drinking (alcohol) as a means of refreshing ourselves. I was rather shocked to see his argument progress this far, but I can't say I agree with even the beginning. For if we are in search of the Stoic sage, the perfectly wise and just man, then I doubt we would be right in holding up a weak man as our ideal. For that is what I consider entertainment to be - the indulgence of a weakness. I should qualify my position by saying I am consider television and video games as 'entertainment' as Seneca is referring to; not, for example, the ballet or the orchestra. If advancing yourself for half of the day is good, how is advancing yourself for the entire day not infinitely better?
On a meta-note: if you are a real person and not a bot, please comment or at least drop me a message. I should think a critical reading of philosophy would be much easier and more productive with another person to converse with.
One of the newer points was doing whatever you can to be productive and helpful. I suppose this could be inferred from more established Stoic literature, but I liked the particular exhortations on the subject of Seneca to Serenus. Essentially, one should always do what they can, regardless of the hand they are dealt. If only everyone would act in this way. I think you would see many more volunteers, at least.
A few pages later, Seneca reemphasizes that adversity grows character, indeed it is essential to our well-being. We should be thankful that habit allows us to become accustomed to adversity, allowing us to withstand it. I am not sure this is always a good thing. The way Seneca writes, it seems he had in mind perhaps a slave, who gradually becomes used to his restraints and becomes more productive and receptive of orders. However, habit could also be used maliciously. Complacency is certainly a negative possession of the mind, and allows a man to become inured to offenses against him. Habit, while it can be good, also allows man to grow weary of fighting for virtue; not all right action and judgement can be instilled once in the form of a virtue and forgotten about. Much must be fought for continuously; complacency forces some men into accepting bad as good.
Towards the end, Seneca writes that man should not always look to advance his station, but is justified in turning to entertainment at times. There is certainly an argument to be made that entertainment refreshes the mind and allows it to replenish itself. Seneca goes so far as to advocate drinking (alcohol) as a means of refreshing ourselves. I was rather shocked to see his argument progress this far, but I can't say I agree with even the beginning. For if we are in search of the Stoic sage, the perfectly wise and just man, then I doubt we would be right in holding up a weak man as our ideal. For that is what I consider entertainment to be - the indulgence of a weakness. I should qualify my position by saying I am consider television and video games as 'entertainment' as Seneca is referring to; not, for example, the ballet or the orchestra. If advancing yourself for half of the day is good, how is advancing yourself for the entire day not infinitely better?
On a meta-note: if you are a real person and not a bot, please comment or at least drop me a message. I should think a critical reading of philosophy would be much easier and more productive with another person to converse with.
To give a possible answer to your question: 'If advancing yourself for half of the day is good, how is advancing yourself for the entire day not infinitely better?'
ReplyDeleteSeneca says the following: 'The mind should not be kept continuously at the same pitch of concentration, but given amusing diversions...Our minds must relax: they will rise better and keener after a rest...uninterrupted productivity will soon exhaust it'
I think Seneca's point is that you're absolutely right: advancing yourself for the entire day would be infinitely better. But human beings are not capable of constant improvement in the same way that we are not capable of flying with wings: it just doesn't fit with our biological make-up. We have certain biological needs to satisfy before we can be productive, such as eat, sleep, exercise - and yes, rest the mind from time to time with trivial conversation and netflix. But Seneca would say that as soon as the mind is rested, we should resume productive activity. Entertainment is only extrinsically valuable, insofar as it is a means to be more productive when you've finished your down-time, but it isn't intrinsically valuable. Entertainment is a good slave but a terrible master.
Hope that helps?