“On the Shortness of Life” by Seneca ~ Philosophy with Brado.

“On the Shortness of Life” by Seneca

According to Seneca, we “make” life short when in reality it is long enough. He thinks we waste the time that has been given. Seneca raises the most important idea when saying time is our greatest asset and not to waste it. He is trying to make sure we realize what life really is, time passing and opportunity at every second.

What do you waste your time on?
How could you waste less time?

Seneca states that we in fact do have enough time, we are just wasteful with our time and do not treat it like the true asset it is. I seem to waste my time on organizing to much when I could just finish tasks instead of over preparing and over perfecting. He feels we just do not invest our time properly. Instead we busy ourselves with everything from luxury to useless sorrow. Everything but focusing on our own happiness and progress.

How often is your mind unperturbed? How often did your day pass as you had intended?
How much of your life has been taken up with useless sorrow?

I honestly don't know if I can personally answer this, it all depends on the day. Alot of life seems to be unavoidable sorrow and if somehow I avoid it, there is an odder sorrow to come from that choice. It's a learnt pleasure in the ironic absurdity from an observers point of view.

Seneca seems to be enforcing the idea that we must use our time diligently and that so much time has already gone by without true action or recognition. The great man would be one who acts in progressing through philosophy and fulfilling their own personal needs for happiness and a good life.

“Everyone hurries his life on and suffers from a yearning for the future and a weariness of the present,” He says that the man who focuses all his time on his own needs will never long for nor fear the tomorrow. I like this idea, it makes me realize how much more I already could have gotten done!

One good reason that we seem to ignore time to fiddle around with trivial moments, is that time in incorporeal. We cant grasp it, it's not physically tangible so it is easily discredited or forgotten. We also are asked alot by our external world, and it affects us in a similar way to entropy. If we are stagnant often times we will spend our time fulfilling a request from the external world, whether that is an obligation or reaction to an immediately present stimulus. It would be wiser to enjoy a moment of pure silence to recognize the path. This supports Seneca’s view of why “men trifle with the most precious thing in the world”

“postponement is the greatest waste of life”

To what extent do you feel like you are “postponing”?

Personally I have been putting off many things because of a habit or need to be overly prepared. Whether it be playing gigs, or the putting off of recording a certain song because its not "ready" when really I should just be putting everything out!

On the other side I find a problem to ensuring this manifests, is that there is so much to learn and do in the world that unless you just jump in and go for it you'll end up being mediocre at a bunch of things instead of incredible at a few.(I miss blowing glass,.. but I wasn't that good at it)

Seneca writes, “as from a torrent that rushes by and will not always flow, you must drink quickly”?

Life is really extremely fleeting and we must approach it as such, do not let it pass by, do not over prepare or second guess. Essentially just allow yourself to dive in and live life to the fullest.

Probably one of my favorite passages from the whole reading... “Of all men they alone are at leisure who take time for philosophy, they alone really live…”. Seneca is saying that through thought and philosophy we have a connection to every age, person and idea in history. This combines with our new found respect and ability to harness time allows us to make an impact on the world and shine new light for other thinkers to ponder, live and learn from.

What are some things you could do to follow his advice? What, if anything, will change for you as a result of reading this essay?

As for the point of Seneca’s analogy about the man on a long voyage... It is the question of existing vs. living. If the boat just goes out sloshes around and doesn't actually travel anywhere how credible or agreeable is that trip.
I like the quote "Not much voyaging did he have, but much tossing about." I hear it in yodas voice.

This essay has actually changed a lot of my thinking. actually a better statement would be this essay helped me confirm what I already knew. That my time and life is important and should not be put on hold for anything. It also has reminded me that the nature of reality is absurdity and thought. Seneca wants us to live our lives, as well as observe and have clear thoughts about what we experience. Time is the true asset, "while the blood is hot.." while we still have vigor and ideas we should put into action our virtuous thought!

~“Now while the blood is hot, we must enter with brisk step upon the better course.”

This has been philosophy with brado

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