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Discussion
Seneca provides a deeper analysis of natures meanness perceived by human beings. I agree with his argument that people who criticize the shortness of life are unable to see its reality. Life according to him is long that grants them sufficient time to engage in social obligations. The criticism drawn by Seneca reflects the flaws of mankind who get involved in unnecessary activities. They ignore the importance of time and waste it without considering the outcomes. Although ending of time is unknown, but one has the authority to make the best use of all time available in their lifespan. Another striking revelation made by Seneca is that people value money more than time. I agree with his views that people overweighing money are irrational. People continue to spend time on useless activities by assuming that it is endless and immortal. Most of the time is consumed in non-productive activities such as parties, drunkenness, and lusts.
Many things pointed by Seneca about the importance of life resonate with me. I myself have been engaged in useless activities such as social media, gaming, and parties that brings no positive outcomes. I willfully squander time on these activities and ignore many important things such as studying, attending seminars and workshops. I thus feel a connection with Seneca's reasoning because I fit in the definition of mankind explained by him. Like other humans, I care less about time than money. I have never thought about time's ending and believe that I got plenty of it. I agree with Seneca's claim that "the life we are given isn't short, but we make it so; we're not ill provided but we're wasteful of life” CITATION Luc05 \l 1033 (Seneca). The shortness of life depends on one's choices. I think that people who learn the significance of time will make productive use of it. They will engage themselves in utilitarian activities such as working, studying and achievement of goals. This will bring them close to their life goals, so they will not consider life short. I also agree with Seneca that life is long and offers ample opportunities to the people who map it well. Life is long only when we know how to use it. I agree with his claim that, “one person’s held in the grip of voracious avarice, another by the kind of diligence that busies itself with pointless enterprise” CITATION Luc05 \l 1033 (Seneca). The likelihood of mankind to complaint nature is high when they are following a pointless path. Their inability to refrain from idleness causes them to waste time.
I accept Seneca's reasoning on the shortness of life by considering his parallel comparison on wealth and time. He portrays the exact nature of mankind by stating, "many are kept busy either striving after other people's wealth or complaining about their own" CITATION Luc05 \l 1033 (Seneca). They lack a consistent goal in life that results in their dissatisfaction. According to him, life gives adequate time to everyone to rise and acquire one's dream. Their failure to recognize the importance of time results in their restlessness and fall. I agree that people are never willing to distribute their money but are ready to waste time on extravagant activities. The overall analysis of Seneca depicts that the duration of lifespan depends on the approach adopted by humans for spending it. The desire for money motivates humans to keep themselves occupied with business with the ultimate goal of attaining leisure. I agree that these people are wasting their time by ignoring the future. The most practical use of time is made by people who are capable of controlling their passions and live a happy life.
Response 1
I like the post of Tristan J Salameh because it provides a deeper analysis of Seneca's philosophy of life. It depends on how they live their lives and adopt behaviors towards different events. I agree that "our lives are perhaps relatively short, but what we do with our lives must last for centuries." I think that a person who makes the best choices and lives to the fullest will not make a complaint about the shortness of life. Also if an idle person gets more years to live, it will be of no use. So, one must not black life but focus on ways for making it worth and useful. I agree that people can accomplish their dreams in the time they get to live. More years would do not good. Salameh makes an important point that people have been concerned about extending their years of life but not on finding ways for making it useful.
Response 2
I agree with the viewpoints of Andrew J Zeppa. He has mentioned how Seneca can be an inspiration for people who lack motivation. I agree that one needs to communicate with self for uncovering desires and goals. This is the only way by which we can focus on making the best use of our lives. I also agree that people who accomplish their goals will never find lives short. I agree that people have a lot of tendencies to repeat the same mistakes over and over because they are preoccupied with their thoughts. People waste too much time thinking about the future that causes frustration. One must live in the present and focus on goals. I think Zeppa makes the right point that one must find ways of living happily such as by focusing on the relationship, creativity, experience, contribution, and freedom. People who are goal oriented and avoid destructive thinking will find lives sufficient.
Work Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY Seneca, Lucius. On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It (Penguin Great Ideas) 1st Edition. Trans. C. D. N. Costa. Penguin Books, 2005.
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