Relationships of this kind would be between elite males of fairly equal social standing. Amicitia is the Latin term for friendship in the context of Ancient Roman culture. This is of the form of and etiquette of bond-formation between persons by the giving and exchanging of gifts or services (favors), and is prescriptive of the way in which the aristocrats might behave, for the good of ancient Roman society. As such, the work is concerned with the lives of Roman aristocrats, and the nature of their relationships.
ĭe Beneficiis deals with ethics with regards to political leadership. The subject of the work might be thought of as social ethics, and specifically Stoic ethics. This includes benefit-exchange, reciprocity, and giving and receiving, within society. Which very much holds human society together ĭe Beneficiis concerns the nature of relative benefits to persons fulfilling the role in social exchange of either giver or receiver. Seneca's aim of the work was, through a discussion of benefits (to regulate a practice): The first sentence of the work reads:Īmong the many and diverse errors of those who live reckless and thoughtless lives, almost nothing that I can mention, excellent Liberalis, is more disgraceful than the fact that we do not know how either to give or to receive benefits. Contents ĭe Beneficiis comprises seven books. The Stoic philosopher Hecato of Rhodes is quoted several times in the treatise and was a likely influence for Seneca. The Greek language term for giving and receiving is δόσις και λῆ(μ)ψις. Nero was emperor during the time of writing. 3) indicating that it was finished by 64. Seneca mentions the completed work in his Letters to Lucilius (81. Mario Lentano provides a collation of a number of sources who posit different periods of about these years in Brill's Companion to Seneca. It is considered that the work was very likely written between the years 56 and 62 AD. The work is dedicated to Aebutius Liberalis who is also the subject of Letter 91. Other translations of the title have included: On gifts and services On the Award and Reception of Favors On Favours and On kind deeds. De Beneficiis concerns the award and reception of gifts and favours within society, and examines the complex nature and role of gratitude within the context of Stoic ethics.Īlthough the title is typically translated as On Benefits, the word Beneficiis is derived from the Latin word beneficium, meaning a favor, benefit, service, or kindness. It forms part of a series of moral essays (or "Dialogues") composed by Seneca. De Beneficiis (English: On Benefits) is a first-century work by Seneca the Younger.
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