Stoicism is having a cultural moment, with bestselling books and podcasts taking this ancient philosophy to a new audience. But there are problems with Stoicism, both in its modern and ancient forms.

As a Stoic philosopher writing in Latin, Seneca makes a lasting contribution to Stoicism. He occupies a central place in the literature on Stoicism at the time, and shapes the understanding of Stoic thought that later generations were to have. Seneca’s philosophical works played a large role in the revival of Stoic ideas in the Renaissance.