Seneca's influence with Nero

Thesis

This dissertation attempts to illuminate the enigma of Seneca as seen in Tacitus, Seneca politicus, and his capacity at the Palace. The project thus evaluates the three most accessible sources for both how Nero would have viewed Seneca and how Seneca presented himself to Nero—Nero’s childhood and education, Apocolocyntosis, and De clementia. Assessment of these sources through the game-theoretical model of signaling and signal games forms a model of their relationship, which itself becomes the thesis of the dissertation. The thesis contends that, post accession, Seneca en-gaged Nero in a didactic relationship focusing on philosophy, or rather, on his own insights into ethical decision-making and morality in interpersonal dealings. But the details surrounding this deduction nuance its interpretation. His presentation of philosophy to Nero smacks of practicality. It is opportunistic, utilizing the philosophi-cally propaedeutic nature of Nero’s education; and his own contribution to the imperi-al intellect, clementia, is not convincingly Stoic. Seneca wished to be trusted for his ability to offer advice on interpersonal dealings, and to form acute judgments about other people and their actions.

Authors: Eager, M

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-447zj5y2g
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford