Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter

Seneca writes his Letters to Lucilius towards the end of his life. In the 124 extant letters, he deals with different subjects, most of which have a substantial connection with every man’s existential dramas, so that we could recognize the human condition as the letters’ main topic. The short openin...

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Main Author:	André Alonso
Format:	Article
Language:	Portuguese
Published:	Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) 2021-06-01
Series:	O Que Nos Faz Pensar
Online Access:	http://www.oquenosfazpensar.fil.puc-rio.br/index.php/oqnfp/article/view/718

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spelling	doaj-afd84a0912c64a71b97455dceb5c83ec2021-09-19T05:48:46ZporPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)O Que Nos Faz Pensar0104-66752021-06-012948295410.32334/oqnfp.2021n48a718718Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letterAndré Alonso0Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) / Universidade Feeral do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)Seneca writes his Letters to Lucilius towards the end of his life. In the 124 extant letters, he deals with different subjects, most of which have a substantial connection with every man’s existential dramas, so that we could recognize the human condition as the letters’ main topic. The short opening letter is about saving time. He explains that time is our most valuable commodity and shows the different ways we are deprived from its possession. Using a series of imperatives, as would a physician in a prescription, he urges his pupil to take control of the time he has been deprived of. In this paper, I analyze the first letter and show how Seneca considers time the most essential matter of a philosophical transformation of human life. I argue that in this letter he establishes a plan of Lucilius philosophical healing through the recovery of lost time and that, according to his views, control of time is the first step to the control of the self.http://www.oquenosfazpensar.fil.puc-rio.br/index.php/oqnfp/article/view/718
collection	DOAJ
language	Portuguese
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	André Alonso
spellingShingle	André Alonso Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter O Que Nos Faz Pensar
author_facet	André Alonso
author_sort	André Alonso
title	Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter
title_short	Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter
title_full	Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter
title_fullStr	Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter
title_full_unstemmed	Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter
title_sort	reappropriation of time and of the self in seneca’s first letter
publisher	Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
series	O Que Nos Faz Pensar
issn	0104-6675
publishDate	2021-06-01
description	Seneca writes his Letters to Lucilius towards the end of his life. In the 124 extant letters, he deals with different subjects, most of which have a substantial connection with every man’s existential dramas, so that we could recognize the human condition as the letters’ main topic. The short opening letter is about saving time. He explains that time is our most valuable commodity and shows the different ways we are deprived from its possession. Using a series of imperatives, as would a physician in a prescription, he urges his pupil to take control of the time he has been deprived of. In this paper, I analyze the first letter and show how Seneca considers time the most essential matter of a philosophical transformation of human life. I argue that in this letter he establishes a plan of Lucilius philosophical healing through the recovery of lost time and that, according to his views, control of time is the first step to the control of the self.
url	http://www.oquenosfazpensar.fil.puc-rio.br/index.php/oqnfp/article/view/718
work_keys_str_mv	AT andrealonso reappropriationoftimeandoftheselfinsenecasfirstletter
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Reappropriation of time and of the self in Seneca’s first letter

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