Letters from a Stoic

Robin Campbell provides a summary of Seneca’s life. Born “about the same time as Christ” in Cordoba, Spain, he first became interested in Stoicism while living in Egypt (7). He entered politics as a lawyer, becoming one of the main speakers in the Roman Senate by 37 CE. From here he fell afoul of imperial authorities, culminating in his 41 CE exile to Corsica. In 49 CE he returned to Rome and was installed as Nero’s tutor. When Claudius (the emperor) died in 54 CE, Seneca and an army officer named Burrus acted as the main administrators of the Roman Empire. The first five years of Nero’s reign are sometimes described as a high point in effective Roman governance because of this.

By 58 CE, Seneca’s influence began to wane as Publius Suillis Rufus emerged as a vocal critic, particularly highlighting the disparity between Seneca’s philosophical teachings and his affluent lifestyle. Campbell describes this criticism as “a stock criticism of Seneca right down the centuries” (11). While Seneca amassed considerable wealth, he defended himself by arguing that his attitude toward wealth mattered more than his possession of it.

In 59 CE, Nero killed his mother under the belief that she was plotting against him.