Café Philosophique: On Seneca

bristol | miscellaneous | event notice Friday June 20, 2008 14:09 by Nick Thomas - The Pierian Centre info at pieriancentre dot com The Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8SA 0117 924 4512

An evening on the extraordinary life and thought of Seneca.

The Café Philosophique welcomes you to an evening devoted to the extraordinary life and thought of Seneca. Friday 27th June is your chance to meet and eat and explore the secrets of a life of real happiness!

The Death of Seneca by Luca Giordano

Seneca was a Stoic philosopher with a very pragmatic bent. At the heart of his philosophy was a belief in the simple life as a route to clarity and wisdom. But Seneca’s own life was far from simple, surviving death threats by Caligula and exile by Claudius, before being ordered to commit suicide by Nero.

Even in his own life time Seneca was a controversial figure. Some thought him a hypocrite, and others thought that his illicit affairs with married women undermined his claims of restraint and self-discipline. But his philosophy was forged in testing proximity to some of the more “colourful” Roman Emperors. Caligula only spared his life because he thought the sickly Seneca would die soon anyway. Claudius’ infamous wife Messalina had him banished from Rome for adultery – and only her death 8 years later allowed him to return and become tutor to the 12 year old Nero. He survived many years as mentor and advisor to the increasingly tyrannical young Emperor, before Nero accused him of plotting and ordered him to open his veins and end his life.

Seneca’s Stoic philosophy pits individual free will against the forces of a deterministic universe. In the face of Nature, destiny and hardship, it says that Man’s best defences are reason and realism. His thoughts on how to achieve happiness in the teeth of threats, tyranny and exile are profound meditations on overcoming suffering. At a time when the best-seller lists are filled with books on how to embrace your dark side and how to accept what life has to offer, Seneca's philosophy feels both fresh and familiar.

Roxane Loiseaux leads the evening, bringing first-hand experience of the informal, French approach to philosophy. “A ‘café philosophique’ is a dynamic thing,” she says. “It’s a gathering of people from all sorts of backgrounds discussing topics inspired by current affairs. It’s the coming together that’s important, the sharing of views and ideas, the desire to find some landmarks in our lives. On Friday we’ll be asking questions like ‘Is suffering our destiny?’ and ‘Can we stay true to ourselves in the face of pain and adversity?’ The evening will have a clear structure, but the answers will depend on the participants!”

So come along to the Pierian Centre on Friday 27th June, 6.30(prompt)– 9.30pm. The price of £17 (£12 unwaged) includes delicious food and drink. It’s best to ring and book your place on 0117 924 4512 or info@pieriancentre.com. The Pierian Centre is at 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8SA – parking right outside, free after 6pm. Come and find out if it’s possible to lead a good life in a wicked world. No need for a toga!