Lucius Annaeus Seneca, De beneficiis [On benefits]

Pietro Li Causi (Università di Palermo)

Ed. by Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

First circulation or publication 56 - 64

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Treatise

Resources

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Recommended Reading

Written between 56 and 64 AD,

De beneficiis

is a treatise in seven books that constitutes, together with

De ira

and

De clementia

, the centre of Seneca’s philosophical reflection on social ethics. More specifically, within the context of a critical re-interpretation of the stoicism of Chrysippus and Hecato, Seneca sees

bene facere

(“granting a benefit”, as well as “doing good

per se

”) as the primary means of achieving and maintaining a community’s civil cohesion.

Bene facere, however, is framed as the immediate consequence of bene velle (“loving”: e.g., Ben.1.6). There is, in this sense, a progressive shift from the material sphere of the objects and services conferred, to the immaterial and spiritualised sphere of intentions and benevolent emotions that cement a

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2661 words

Citation: Li Causi, Pietro. "De beneficiis". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 January 2015 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35596, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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