Column 1
Column 2
Rather than be pulled along by unfulfillable desires, live now
Of course, we need money and resources to survive; Seneca is not denying this. His point is simply not to confuse ‘survive’ with ‘thrive’.
If we have enough resources so that our natural desires (and those of our dependents) are reliably met, then why bother seeking more? What’s it all actually for?
If we dedicate our (only) lives to the accumulation of status and resources, we climb aboard a golden treadmill, frantically moving but not actually going anywhere.
“The life of such people is always unfinished,” Seneca says, and:
“We cannot stand prepared for death if we are just beginning to live. We must instead make sure that we have already lived enough. And no one could think this about himself if he is forever involved in starting to live. You should not suppose that such people are few in number: almost everyone is like this. Indeed, they begin to live only when it is time to stop. If you think this strange, I will add something which will surprise you even more: some people leave off living before they have even begun…”
If the purpose of philosophy is to prepare us for death, as many of the ancients thought, then we can view Seneca’s words as a challenge.
Will we vainly, blindly strut upon the gilded treadmill of wealth and fame and resource accumulation, ever grasping forward but with no real destination in mind?
Or will we climb off, and with eyes wide open, appreciate the richness, the beauty, the joy of life that is right here before us, ready for us to claim it?
You can let me know your thoughts by replying directly to this email, or by joining the conversation on Philosophy Break Academy (membership required — sign up to our How to Live a Good Life or Introduction to Nietzsche guides for access).
I love hearing from you, and read and respond to every message.
• How to Live a Good Life (according to 7 of the world’s wisest philosophies)
• Life’s Big Questions (your concise shortcut to philosophy’s most important wisdom)
• Introduction to Nietzsche (your myth-busting guide to Nietzsche and his 5 greatest ideas) 2. Make a one-off contribution (or pledge your support monthly via Patreon to bag a host of membership benefits). 3. If you’re buying something on Amazon this week anyway, consider doing so through our Amazon affilliate link (we may earn a small percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you) — you can also access this link any time from our website’s footer.
