Seneca's Stoic Take on Slavery is Still Relevant Today

Discover how a 2,000-year-old letter on slavery still challenges our views on human dignity today. Seneca's words will surprise you.

In this video, we present a modernized version of a remarkable letter written by Seneca the Younger, the renowned Roman Stoic philosopher, to his friend Lucilius Junior around 65 AD. Despite living in a society where slavery was commonplace, Seneca's views were notably humane for his time.

This letter, part of Seneca's "Moral Letters to Lucilius," stands out for its humane approach to the treatment of slaves. We've carefully adapted Seneca's original words into contemporary language, maintaining the essence and integrity of his powerful message while making it accessible to modern audiences.

Seneca challenges the prevailing attitudes of his era, urging slave owners to treat their slaves with respect and dignity. His arguments, rooted in Stoic philosophy, touch on themes of fundamental human equality and the nature of true freedom.

This video offers a unique opportunity to hear Seneca's thoughts in a modern voice, allowing viewers to connect directly with this ancient wisdom. We present the letter in its entirety, letting Seneca's own words speak to the timeless issues of power, respect, and human dignity.

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Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction: Seneca and the context of Roman slavery
0:49 - The Letter Begins: The humanity of slaves and the absurdity of dinner customs
2:20 - The cruelty of slave treatment and specialized slave roles
4:13 - The fickleness of fortune: today's master could be tomorrow's slave
5:19 - Advice on treating slaves with respect and dignity
8:14 - Comfort and The nature of true slavery and character