On Benefits
On Benefits by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, published by University of Chicago Press on August 20, 2014, is a significant work that explores the themes of giving and receiving benefits, as well as the expression of gratitude. This edition spans 222 pages and is presented in English. Written between 56 and 64 CE, the treatise is addressed to Seneca’s close friend Aebutius Liberalis and stands out as the longest of Seneca’s works focused on a single subject, providing a unique perspective on what we now refer to as “gift exchange.”
Readers will find that On Benefits delves into the philosophical underpinnings of personal relationships and the ethical implications of generosity. Seneca emphasizes the importance of owing and repaying benefits, reflecting his Stoic beliefs and the cultural practices of ancient Rome. This work is part of a larger collection of Seneca’s writings, which aims to restore his influence among classical authors studied in the humanities. The treatise not only serves as a historical document but also offers insights into moral philosophy and ethics, making it a valuable resource for those interested in ancient literature and philosophical thought.
Official synopsis Publisher
Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BCE–65 CE) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, dramatist, statesman, and advisor to the emperor Nero, all during the Silver Age of Latin literature. The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca is a fresh and compelling series of new English-language translations of his works in seven accessible volumes. Edited by world-renowned classicists Elizabeth Asmis, Shadi Bartsch, and Martha C. Nussbaum, this engaging collection restores Seneca—whose works have been highly praised by modern authors from Desiderius Erasmus to Ralph Waldo Emerson—to his rightful place among the classical writers most widely studied in the humanities.
On Benefits, written between 56 and 64 CE, is a treatise addressed to Seneca’s close friend Aebutius Liberalis. The longest of Seneca’s works dealing with a single subject—how to give and receive benefits and how to express gratitude appropriately—On Benefits is the only complete work on what we now call “gift exchange” to survive from antiquity. Benefits were of great personal significance to Seneca, who remarked in one of his later letters that philosophy teaches, above all else, to owe and repay benefits well.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “On Benefits” about?
Who is the author of “On Benefits”?
When was “On Benefits” published?
What is the ISBN for “On Benefits”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
