The contemplation of nature and ultimate good according to Seneca: a commented translation of the preface to book I of Naturales Quaestiones
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34019/2318-3446.2020.v8.31784Keywords:
Seneca, nature, ethics, ultimate goodAbstract
Despite the widespread idea that the Roman Stoics would have left aside physics and logic and devoted themselves almost exclusively to the third element of the Stoic triad, ethics, we know several Seneca’s titles related to the study of nature, physics. These studies cover topics related to severalareas of study, such as biology, geology and cosmology. They also permeate the philosopher's entire life, from his youth to his old age. Finally, the Naturales Quaestiones are Seneca's longest treatise and his longest work if we exclude the collection of letters to Lucilius. In the preface here translated, Seneca sets out his view on the importance of the study of nature and, far from considering it secondary, argues that it is the ultimate good of human life, without which even a perfectly ethical life is worthless.
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