Perennial Meditations

Virtue is the Only Good | According to Seneca


Listen Later

How do we know virtue is the only good?  Although the Stoics and Epicureans agreed on finding tranquility in life, they differed drastically on the topic of virtue.

In Letter 76, titled Only the honorable is good, Seneca wrote,

This is called virtue; this is the honorable and the sole good of the human being. Since only reason perfects a human, only reason makes him perfectly happy. But that by which alone he is made happy is his sole good. We say, too, that those things which proceed from virtue and are connected with it — that is, all the activities of virtue — are themselves goods.


Seneca warned Lucilius, “If you accept the view that something besides the honorable is good, then every virtue will have a hard time.” Virtue cannot be maintained by looking beyond itself. If so, it is contrary to reason — which virtue depends. [...]

If you're interested in a deeper dive, you can read articles on ancient lessons for modern life at the PERENNIAL publication on Medium or check out our YouTube Channel.

Follow Perennial Leader Project:

  • Twitter: twitter.com/searchwisdompod
  • Instagram: instagram.com/searchwisdompod
  • Sign-up for The PATH, our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom).


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit perennial.substack.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Perennial MeditationsBy Perennial Leader Project

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

1 ratings


More shows like Perennial Meditations

View all
10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,509 Listeners