Seneca and Stoicism

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This advanced course in Latin on the writings of the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (aka Seneca the Younger, 4BCE- 65CE) will focus on Seneca’s letters, and then on his essay De Ira "On Anger". We will read selections of other dialogues of his in English, as well some recent critical commentary on Seneca’s work. Students will learn to read Seneca’s Latin and to recognize the particular characteristics of his style as a means to learning Seneca’s philosophical outlook, and thinking about it critically. We will also read a couple of his plays in English to consider what this philosopher does when he takes his philosophy to literature.