History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 068 - John Sellars on the Roman Stoics
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Feb 19, 2012 AI Snips
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Main Roman Stoics
- Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius are the main Roman Stoics we know of due to extant texts.
- Other figures like Cato the Younger, Quintus Sextius, and Musonius Rufus existed but left fewer writings.
Stoicism vs. Epicureanism
- Stoicism aligned with traditional Roman values like courage and austerity, making it popular.
- Epicureanism, focused on pleasure, initially attracted those seeking alternatives to traditional values but waned as decadence grew.
Stoicism and Politics
- The rise of Stoicism might be linked to the decline of political engagement under the emperors.
- It offered solace in a deterministic world where individuals had little control, mirroring the political reality.