Sêneca e a felicidade

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the notion of happy life in Seneca the Younger. To achieve this objective will be considered the reflections of Seneca encountered in the follow books: The Happy Life (De Vita Beata), Moral Epistles (Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium). One of the important elements of this discussion is the idea that happiness is encountered in each individual and not in the things, material goods and in the other people. Another important premise is self-confidence as the foundation of happiness, as Seneca maintains. The acknowledgement of what are vices and virtues completes the argumentation and will be central in this line. The idea that the human must act conforms to your self nature also is fundamental for comprehending what Seneca considers as happiness. In secondary form, it will be analyzed the atemporality of the concept of happiness, as defined by the philosopher. Atemporality is understood as something that never loses its validity. The actuality materializes from the moment that the revelation of Seneca's ideas about happiness becomes emergent. When one proposes a atemporality of Seneca's ideas, one does not mean that these ideas are in full use at our time, however, a question is proposed: is there a demand today for this way of experiencing happiness?