Seneca on overcoming envy and jealousy

Even the smartest, most enlightened humans are doomed to suffer from envy and jealousy. #seneca analysed the problem and came up with an imperfect solution. He spent considerable time reflecting about this matter, but his deficient logic prevented him from seeing the truth. I consider it important to study Seneca’s #philosophy on this issue, and see where he went wrong exactly. Understanding his error is a prerequisite for finding the correct solution, one that works in real life. Why did Seneca oppose envy and jealousy? He spelled out his reasons in his Letters to Lucilius. The problem with envy and jealousy, explained Seneca, is that they generate “double suffering.” In the first place, the victims suffer because of their failures, setbacks and unfulfilled desires. Secondly, victims will render their #emotional #suffering more acute by comparing themselves with successful people. Victims of envy and jealousy feel doubly mistreated by life. Not only have they failed to achieve their goals, but on top of that, they must witness how other people, often less deserving, appear to have been blessed by luck. Seneca analysed the problem and blamed it on the victims, that is, on their unfulfilled desires. Envy and #jealousy wouldn’t exist, he reasoned, if people felt content with their station in life. Let’s ponder Seneca’s conclusion for a second. If people did not look beyond their nose, they would not see possibilities for #improvement and would not feel envious of others, deservedly or not. They would not feel the emotional pain of defeat, inferiority and discontent. They wouldn’t regard other people’s success as unfair because they would remain unaware of what’s going on in the world. Even #alexanderthegreat (356-323 BC) had suffered from unfulfilled desires, argues Seneca in his 9th Letter to Lucilius. I find this argument particularly spurious, but let’s take it at face value, so that we can assess Seneca’s logic. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/seneca-on-overcoming-envy-and-jealousy/