Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales

This book provides a detailed commentary on Book 1 (epistulae 1-12) of Seneca's Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales, written in the last years (62-65 AD) of the philosopher's life. The importance of the Epistulae Morales as an example, possibly the consummation, of Seneca's writings and a discussion of Roman (Stoic) moral philosophy, is universally acknowledged. The purpose in focusing upon these first twelve epistles, which establish the principle and intention of this large collection of twenty extant Books, is to interpret and annotate the letters and add insight to the understanding of the Epistulae Morales overall. Every letter in Book 1 is discussed in the form of a commentary. Areas of comment include vocabulary and style, personal allusions to Seneca, relevant issues of history and social environment and, inevitably, the moral and philosophical concepts which form the substance of Seneca's argument throughout the Epistulae Morales. Two further issues, the Structure and Style of Book 1, are discussed in separate chapters.

The Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, also known as the Moral Epistles, is a collection of 124 letters which were written by Seneca the Younger at the end of his life, during his retirement, and written after he had worked for the Emperor Nero for fifteen years. They are addressed to Lucilius, the then procurator of Sicily, although he is known only through Seneca's writings. Although these letters deal with Seneca's eclectic form of Stoic philosophy, they also give us valuable insights into daily life in ancient Rome.

The Epistulae morales ad Lucilium (English: Moral Epistles to Lucilius) is a collection of 124 letters which were written by Seneca the Younger at the end of his life. They are addressed to Lucilius, the then procurator of Sicily, although he is known only through Seneca's writings. In these letters, Seneca gives Lucilius tips on how to become a more devoted Stoic. Lucilius was, at that time, the Governor of Sicily, although he is known only through Seneca's writings. Selected from the Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, these letters illustrate the upright ideals admired by the Stoics and extol the good way of life as seen from their standpoint They also reveal how far in advance of his time were many of Seneca's ideas - his disgust at the shows in the arena or his criticism of the harsh treatment of slaves. Philosophical in tone and written in the 'pointed' style of the Latin Silver Age these 'essays in disguise' were clearly aimed by Seneca at posterity.