Seneca

• How did Seneca describe love?


  Maddened friendship
• What was Seneca's view on friendship?


  The Stoic wise man should not need friends, but want them
• Why would Seneca have disapproved of pederasty?


  He was firmly against the idea of advantage in a relationship
• How did Seneca present his relationship with his wife?


  Seneca presented the relationship between himself and his wife Paulina as one of pure love
• How does Seneca describe what arises from mutual affection?


  Foul passion
• What did Seneca believe to be the worst of the vices?


  Lust and gluttony
• How did Seneca view desire?


  As a way through which the body took control of the mind
• How did Seneca describe Phaedra in his play about her and Hippolytus?


  Being "eaten up with desire"
• Why did Seneca believe lust was given to humanity?


  "Not for the sake of pleasure, but for the propagation of the human race"
• How did Seneca believe people could resist unwelcome desire?


  Abstinence of alcohol
• What did Seneca think alcohol could stop him from attaining?


  Virtus
• Why did Seneca condemn men who dressed as women?


  He thought they were inviting sexual advances from other men
• Why did Seneca believe men should not take the passive role in sex?


  He viewed it as imitating the behaviour of a young boy
• Why did Seneca think men had sex with other men?


  To channel their desire without the risk of pregnancy
• Why did Seneca disapprove of sex with slaves?


  He saw it as exploitation
• Why did Tacitus criticise Seneca?


  Seneca taught people not to hoard wealth but he had hoarded around three hundred million sesterces until his death
• Why did Cassius Dio criticise Seneca?


  He disapproved of Seneca turning a blind eye to Nero's crimes
• What is apatheia?

  Being able to rise above everything except your basic desires