Seneca on Vice

Ulysses proficiens. A reassessment of Seneca’s reading

“…By means of the observation of seemingly virtuous actions, our mind extrapolates the notion of what is good as such; but in as much as every virtuous deed is only imperfectly virtuous, our notion of the 'virtuous itself' is inevitably affected by our natural exaggeration (Natura iubet augere laudanda, "Nature orders us to exaggerate what is praiseworthy"), or even by a form of self-deception. 16 10 Motto;Clark, 1993, p. 185. 11 See Wildberger, 2014; see also D.L.…”

“…Berno (2016) has proposed to read ferarum, which is absolutely plausible. 31 See Motto;Clark (1993, p. 185) for a different interpretation. 32 Torre, 2016, p. 710-711.…”

“…Tranquillity is an inner dimension, which only needs ratio to be realized; 44 so, it can be obtained even if outside distractions and noises 42 Note that the opposition between virtue and the challenges posed by the voces is carefully conveyed by means of a series of opposed terms and expressions: blanda/publica, ex uno scopulo/ex omni terrarium parte, unum locum/omnes urbes. 43 So, something more efficacious than Ulysses' solution: Motto;Clark, 1993, p.183. 44 See Cambiano, 2001 In fact I am forcing my mind to focus on itself and not be distracted by outside events; let everything be echoing outside, so long as there is no disruption within me, while desire and fear are not quarrelling with each other, while greed and extravagance are not in conflict and neither is bothering the other.…”