The phenomenon and therapy of insania of philosophical compe-tence in Seneca’s prose

Abstract

In my study, I examine Seneca’s views about insania, in terms of its various causes, manifestations, and treatments, since he has a deep interest in the various psychological states of humans. As a Stoic philosopher, he thinks of insania publica as the prevailing phenomenon in the world, and mostly depicts it in passions, especially in anger and the ensuing revenge. In his description, the sage is characterized by personal responsibility, self-control, freedom from passions, and insania occurs when emotions prevail over rational thinking. Rationality must triumph over the irrational forces in the soul, and in his prose works he offers therapy and life-management strategy for the disease of the soul caused by passions.