Purpose or Death with Seneca and Socrates
“It is not the natural hunger of our bellies that costs us dear, but our solicitous cravings. Therefore those who, as Sallust puts it, “hearken to their bellies,” should be numbered among the animals, and not among men; and certain men, indeed, should be numbered, not even among the animals, but among the dead. He really lives who is made use of by many; he really lives who makes use of himself. Those men, however, who creep into a hole and grow torpid are no better off in their homes than if they were in their tombs. Right there on the marble lintel of the house of such a man you may inscribe his name, for he has died before he is dead.” Seneca
A Life of Purpose
What is the purpose of life many ask? I will say living a life of purpose. Seneca describes a life of purpose as a life lived to serve many and to also to be useful to oneself. In summary service to humanity.
There is a balance to be struck between being overly ambitious and greedy and being content yet productive. Some mistake a lack of productivity as a contented life, this is a false. One cannot be truly content, when one has not put in the very best of their abilities to every worthy cause they can, whether directly beneficial to themselves or to others. It is selfish and a waste of potential not to put in efforts in what is largely beneficial to others more than to oneself, and above all, ignorant, because there is no way one will serve selflessly and not benefit; even if the only benefit is the satisfaction that comes from a clear conscience that one has served humanity well.
Some are simply too lazy to be of use to themselves or to others. These types are easy to identify, they are content to go through life leeching on others, never taking initiative except where they think they can con others to their advantage, most of the time keeping up a fake humble appearance; but much worse are those who leech on others always, and with a sense of entitlement. They are always talking about what someone did, or did not do for them or to them. Next time you come across such, ask them what they have done for themselves or others.
The very worst of human folk are those who have no purpose, but are greedy and hold public offices. More often than not, these are the type that usurped power. To such, I will leave with the this saying of Socrates:
“… no physician, in so far as he is a physician, considers his own good in what he prescribes, but the good of his patient; for the true physician is also a ruler having the human body as a subject, and is not a mere money-maker…
…there is no one in any rule who, in so far as he is a ruler, considers or enjoins what is for his own interest, but always what is for the interest of his subject…; to that he looks, and that alone he considers in everything which he says and does.” Plato, The Republic
The bottom line of what Seneca is saying is that one is either living a life of purpose or may as well be dead!
In whatever little way, everyone can serve as an oasis to others!
Ande Elisha
The Amateur Philosopher
