Seneca, Letter 3 - True and False Friendship - Sadler's Lectures episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 20, 2025 · 13 MIN

Seneca, Letter 3 - True and False Friendship - Sadler's Lectures

from Sadler's Lectures · host Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca's Letters, this one looking at Letter 3 It focuses specifically on Seneca discussing a paradox of calling someone a friend but not trusting them with information. This leads Seneca to say that his correspondent, Lucilius doesn't seem to know what genuine friendship really is or involves, and to make a distinction between the common but mistaken use of the term "friend" and the proper sense of the term. He also suggests that many make mistakes by first loving someone and trusting them as a friend and only later on forming a correct judgement of them as a person, when the order of this ought to be reversed. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Seneca's Letters - https://amzn.to/2Myx6os

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca's Letters, this one looking at Letter 3 It focuses specifically on Seneca discussing a paradox of calling someone a friend but not trusting them with information. This leads Seneca to say that his correspondent, Lucilius doesn't seem to know what genuine friendship really is or involves, and to make a distinction between the common but mistaken use of the term "friend" and the proper sense of the term. He also suggests that many make mistakes by first loving someone and trusting them as a friend and only later on forming a correct judgement of them as a person, when the order of this ought to be reversed. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Seneca's Letters - https://amzn.to/2Myx6os

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Seneca, Letter 3 - True and False Friendship - Sadler's Lectures

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This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca's Letters, this one looking at Letter 3 It focuses specifically on Seneca discussing a paradox of calling someone a friend but not trusting them with information. This...

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