Chapter Seneca: otium filosofico e mondo delle occupationes

Abstract

The essay considers the anthropological architecture of Seneca’s thought. It investigates the relationship between leisure (otium) and the world of occupations, in which we could include work. As a contemplative activity, leisure is first and foremost an end in itself. However, it is not a separate dimension, because it can give meaning to the totality of action and being, therefore to all the moments of life. It is an antidote to the waste and alienation of time caused by its fragmentation. To fully live the temporal dimension, it is necessary connecting its moments with a ‘meta-temporal’ dimension. Wisdom offers us the criteria of discernment of human and divine things. The task of the right reason (recta ratio), which has as its goal the condition of bliss, is to lead all the other arts to itself, showing them the way.