Ancient philosophy can be a particularly tricky topic for classroom teachers to deliver and for school students to embrace and understand. As a result it is imperative that any book that wishes to be included as a classroom resource be immensely accessible for teacher and learner alike. A further problem with the teaching of philosophy in a classroom is the relative inaccessibility of ancient authors to modern audiences and commentaries on these texts are too academic.
This book by Fideler however is the exact opposite. With Stoicism being a central philosophy of the Roman Empire and part of the wider context of the study of ancient history and certain literature as part of both the Key Stage 3 curriculum across the country and GCSEs and A Levels, this book can provide teachers and students with a digestible and accessible insight into Seneca's thoughts.
The strength of this book comes from the author's ability to link key themes and ideas from Seneca's writings to a modern audience and a modern context. With this approach it opens up philosophy and the key ideas that Seneca writes about to an audience that might not have previously encountered Seneca's particular interpretation of Stoicism. With most students in a classroom probably encountering Seneca for the first time, this book provides a very engaging introduction to the philosopher. From a teaching perspective, this book also provides an effective framework around which teachers can build up their students’ knowledge because of the author's way of dividing Seneca's philosophy by theme. These chunks are far more manageable not only to teach but also to allow students to build their knowledge Stoicism and in particular Seneca's Stoicism bit by bit.
From the outset it is easy to imagine this book being used as a reference point for both teachers and students to refer back to when developing their wider ideas around ancient philosophy. Furthermore, the link to modern concepts and modern ideas creates an impressive springboard from which it is possible to engage with discussions about classical reception as well as modern interpretations of ancient texts and ideas.
Open access
