Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 – 65 AD) lived in one of the most controversial periods of the Roman Empire. A philosopher, politician, lawyer, prestigious writer even during his lifetime, and a teacher of Emperor Nero, he is one of the leading representatives of Roman stoicism. In his book “What is Philosophy?”, Ortega y Gasset explains … Read more
Learning serves for pleasure, for ornamentation, and for equipping oneself; it brings the most pleasure when we are alone and withdrawn; we adorn conversations with what we have read, and we equip ourselves for conducting business. Experienced individuals can handle, and perhaps assess, each individual detail; but for general advice, planning, and skillful management of … Read more
It is commonly believed that the Egyptians did not have philosophy and that philosophy began with the ancient Greeks. However, some of the greatest Greek philosophers, including Thales, Pythagoras, and Plato, have stated that they owe much of their knowledge and ideas to the Egyptian sages. For example, Plato spent thirteen years studying under Egyptian … Read more
In his remarkable work Ancient Mexicans, Miguel Angel Portillo expresses the depth and complexity of Aztec thought and demonstrates how there is an entire philosophy within their codes, oral tradition, and sacred buildings. Their ideas encompass a whole magical-rational conception of the divine and the abstract. This includes the causes of natural events (metaphysics), the … Read more
