Zac Freij
How Might Seneca's Theory of Frustration, Plato's Theory of the Soul
and The Stoic's Theory of the Soul be Relevant Today?
This essay sets out to determine whether certain theories of ancient philosophy
concerning emotions can apply to today’s society. My hypothesis is that Seneca’s theory
of frustration - which tries to explain why people react to adversity in the manner that they
do - and the contrasting approaches to desire, reason and spirit/emotion - as discussed by
Plato and The Stoics in their theories of the soul - can be applicable today. I set out to test
this hypothesis by conducting a survey of a representative sample to determine, firstly, if
the theories are relevant and, secondly, how they are relevant. I will use quantitative data
to reveal if the theories discussed are relevant and qualitative data to inform me how the
views can apply to today’s society.
Seneca contends that we best deal with those frustrations that we are prepared for
and are harmed the most by those we least expect 1; how badly we react to frustration is
determined by what we consider normal 2. With regard to anger, he says we should be
forgiving towards ourselves: “‘I hide nothing from myself ... Why should I be afraid of my
mistakes, when I can say: ‘See that you don’t do that again. I pardon you this time.’’” 3 His
theory also proposes that holding the possibility of a disaster in mind at all times, we will
not be so shocked by those misfortunes which we do not expect 4. Therefore, we must
expect everything: ‘“There is nothing which fortune does not dare”’ 5 . With regard to a
sense of injustice, Seneca’s view is that not everything that happens to us takes place with
reference to us6 or because of the things that we have previously undertaken in our lives 7 .
He also also counsels that although it may be easy to think that something that hurt us
was preconceived and done on purpose, we should ignore our immediate response 8. If we
adhere to these beliefs, we will be less likely to experience anger when something
negative occurs.
Plato’s theory of the soul holds that the soul has three distinct parts which are
separate entities. These parts are reason, spirit and desire. Plato’s view of the soul is that
each part has its own motivation and they can often come into conflict. 9. He sees desire as
a force which always moves one to get its objective at the present moment, and lacks
consideration for what might happen in the long term. 10 The philosopher views reason as a
force which resists the desire to do something if it is not in one’s best interests. It allows
one to view one’s life as a whole. 11 Plato views the third part of the soul - spirit - as the part
of the soul where we find emotions, and the dimension responsible for making decisions
that overrule desires without having a logical basis for this course of action. 12 Plato states
that we undertake different actions with different parts of the soul: “since there are three
elements, do we do different things with different elements? Is there one element in us for
learning, another for feeling spirited, and yet a third for our desire for the pleasures of food,
1
Alain De Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy (London: Hamish Hamilton), 2000, 81.
2
De Botton, 83.
3
Sedley, 104.
4
De Botton, 87.
5
De Botton, 87, quoting Seneca, Epistulae Morales, XCI. 15.
6
De Botton, 93.
7
De Botton, 94.
8
De Botton, 103.
9
Julia Annas, Ancient Philosophy (Oxford: OUP), 2000, 67.
10
Annas, 67.
11
Annas, 67.
12
Annas, 68.
How Might Seneca's Theory of Frustration, Plato's Theory of the Soul
and The Stoic's Theory of the Soul be Relevant Today?
This essay sets out to determine whether certain theories of ancient philosophy
concerning emotions can apply to today’s society. My hypothesis is that Seneca’s theory
of frustration - which tries to explain why people react to adversity in the manner that they
do - and the contrasting approaches to desire, reason and spirit/emotion - as discussed by
Plato and The Stoics in their theories of the soul - can be applicable today. I set out to test
this hypothesis by conducting a survey of a representative sample to determine, firstly, if
the theories are relevant and, secondly, how they are relevant. I will use quantitative data
to reveal if the theories discussed are relevant and qualitative data to inform me how the
views can apply to today’s society.
Seneca contends that we best deal with those frustrations that we are prepared for
and are harmed the most by those we least expect 1; how badly we react to frustration is
determined by what we consider normal 2. With regard to anger, he says we should be
forgiving towards ourselves: “‘I hide nothing from myself ... Why should I be afraid of my
mistakes, when I can say: ‘See that you don’t do that again. I pardon you this time.’’” 3 His
theory also proposes that holding the possibility of a disaster in mind at all times, we will
not be so shocked by those misfortunes which we do not expect 4. Therefore, we must
expect everything: ‘“There is nothing which fortune does not dare”’ 5 . With regard to a
sense of injustice, Seneca’s view is that not everything that happens to us takes place with
reference to us6 or because of the things that we have previously undertaken in our lives 7 .
He also also counsels that although it may be easy to think that something that hurt us
was preconceived and done on purpose, we should ignore our immediate response 8. If we
adhere to these beliefs, we will be less likely to experience anger when something
negative occurs.
Plato’s theory of the soul holds that the soul has three distinct parts which are
separate entities. These parts are reason, spirit and desire. Plato’s view of the soul is that
each part has its own motivation and they can often come into conflict. 9. He sees desire as
a force which always moves one to get its objective at the present moment, and lacks
consideration for what might happen in the long term. 10 The philosopher views reason as a
force which resists the desire to do something if it is not in one’s best interests. It allows
one to view one’s life as a whole. 11 Plato views the third part of the soul - spirit - as the part
of the soul where we find emotions, and the dimension responsible for making decisions
that overrule desires without having a logical basis for this course of action. 12 Plato states
that we undertake different actions with different parts of the soul: “since there are three
elements, do we do different things with different elements? Is there one element in us for
learning, another for feeling spirited, and yet a third for our desire for the pleasures of food,
1
Alain De Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy (London: Hamish Hamilton), 2000, 81.
2
De Botton, 83.
3
Sedley, 104.
4
De Botton, 87.
5
De Botton, 87, quoting Seneca, Epistulae Morales, XCI. 15.
6
De Botton, 93.
7
De Botton, 94.
8
De Botton, 103.
9
Julia Annas, Ancient Philosophy (Oxford: OUP), 2000, 67.
10
Annas, 67.
11
Annas, 67.
12
Annas, 68.
