Moral and Political Essays
by Seneca
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- c. 41-62 CE
- Era
- Roman Empire
- Form
- Essay
- Language
- Latin
- Length
- Medium · 250 pp120 to 300 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendMoral and Political Essays, translated by John M. Cooper and J. F. ProcopéCambridge University Press, 1995The Cambridge Texts volume that assigns the essays as philosophy rather than period prose, with full notes.
These links go straight to Amazon and Bookshop.org and earn this site nothing today. Prices are the same either way. How this works.
A selection of Seneca's prose treatises. On Anger, in three books, argues against Aristotle that anger is never useful, describes with unpleasant vividness what it does to a face and a household, and prescribes a daily examination of conscience. On Mercy is addressed to the young Nero, whose tutor Seneca was, and tries to persuade an absolute ruler that clemency is in his own interest. On the Private Life asks whether a Stoic may withdraw from public affairs, and On Favours examines what is owed between giver and receiver.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Moral and Political Essays are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
