The Colosseum and Seneca

"According to Seneca, what is man's unique good?  How should a good man conduct himself?"

   
     Seneca's view of the unique good was quite peculiar actually.  He said that the unique good was distinguishing between things that have reason and things that do not.  For instance, he says that a child has not achieved the unique good because it cannot reason.  He also says that the trees have not reached the unique good because they do not reason.

     According to Seneca, in order for you to reach the unique good, you would have to be able to reason. Things like bugs, bushes, or statues cannot reason, so they would not posses the unique good in Seneca's opinion.  In order to reach the unique good, you must be able to reason!
   
     Our ability to reason through life's situations is what makes us able to attain the ultimate good.  It's what makes us human.  It's what makes us unique.

     Seneca also thought that a good man should conduct himself in a virtuous manner, and that a good man should have an ethical attitude.  He thought that a good man should not simply be living for the pleasures of this world.
   
     I will close with the same phrase that he did in one of his letters.

"You will come to your own when you shall understand that those whom the world calls fortunate are really the most unfortunate of all."




"Read further about one of the works of art discussed in lesson 54, and in about 125 words discuss the additional details you find out."

     For this section of my essay I decided that I would talk about the Colosseum.  The Colosseum was finished in 80 AD, and was used for many different purposes.  Some of these include gladiatorial battles, animal hunts, and even executions.  The executions would be held in the form of a play where the condemned would play the hero and would be executed.

     Modern estimates figure that about 50,000 people could be seated in the Colosseum.

     The Colosseum now has millions of tourists every year coming to see it.  That's no surprise considering how massive it's reputation is these days!  It being mentioned in movies such as Gladiator, books, etc., is certainly the reason why.

     The Colosseum certainly is a magnificent structure!  Perhaps even more magnificent, is how it's history has not been forgotten throughout the many years since it's completion in 80 AD.  It has sparked the imaginations of many with it's brilliant size, beauty, and the stories that go along with it.  I hope that it will continue to be a source of inspiration throughout the coming years.  It is something that simply cannot be forgotten.

     Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think!