The Virtue of Beauty

NB: these are notes; will update in due time.   The connection between virtue and beauty (ethics and aesthetics) is fascinating. Briefly put, virtue is a translation of the Greek arete, and personally I believe a better translation in "moral excellence"; chief among the characteristics that make a person excellent is wisdom, which is the …

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Stoicism and Addiction: Stoic Philosophy as a Recovery Program

This article will serve as the basis for a simple, and practical, guide to intermingling the ancient philosophy of Stoicism – of which Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and its successor Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are, in part, based on – and Recovery from Addiction.

The Life of Seneca: Examining our Historical Sources

There are two sides of Seneca that history remembers. One of hypocrisy, corruption, debauchery, and glutonony. And the second of virtue, sobriety, rationailty, and courage. While a third – often overlooked – account shows us a middle ground between those two extremes. Let’s do a brief overview of those sides by examining the three main historical sources we have.

The Death of Seneca

“Where,” Seneca asked, “are your maxims of philosophy, or the preparation of so many years’ study against evils to come? Who knew not Nero’s cruelty? After a mother’s and a brother’s murder, nothing remains but to add the destruction of a guardian and a tutor.”

Seneca: On the Happy Life

In Letter XCII.II, De Vita Beata (On the Happy Life), Seneca writes to his friend Lucilius: "the happy life depends upon this and this alone: our attainment of perfect reason. For it is naught but this that keeps the soul from being bowed down, that stands its ground against Fortune; whatever the condition of their …