セネカにおける哲学的言説とその文体 : マニフェストとその底意

This study aims to explain the apparent inconsistencies between Seneca’s declared requirements for philosophical discourse and his actions . In his Letters on Ethics , he characterizes the ideal way of philosophical discourse as frank and sincere without rhetorical ornamentation . According to him, elaborate composition s are unnecessary; they obscure the matter and, worse, sometimes testify to the author’s vices. Nonetheless, his writing style is rather elaborate rich in proverbs , which makes him appear as the first betrayer of his own manifesto. However, in reality he observed a hidden agenda , in avoiding fatal violation of the spirit of the manifesto. To elicit the reason for the tension, I focus on two points: the provisos of Seneca’s formulations ; and the role of Seneca in his own works as a peer advisor and a bad example. This will elucidate the nature of the manifesto as a propaganda for true protreptic eloquence and justify his extensive use of rhetorical maneuvers. He substantially utilizes his allege d status as a failure in the ideal Stoic education to evangelize Stoicism effectively in the guise of the sober proficient.