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The Stoic Jew
On Resisting the Gravitational Pull of Pleasures (Seneca: Letter #123 - On the Conflict Between Pleasure and Virtue)
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On Resisting the Gravitational Pull of Pleasures (Seneca: Letter #123 - On the Conflict Between Pleasure and Virtue)

Synopsis: Today will be our last episode on Letter #123 (for now, at least). In this excerpt Seneca provides us with further guidance on how to resist the “counterfeit Stoicism” we read about last time. His method parallels that of the Rambam in Hilchos Deios and Shemoneh Perakim, although it’s not exactly the same. The reason I wanted to record this episode was because of a hidden gem: a Mishleic perspective Seneca gives us which can help us not to give in to the gravitational pull of pleasure. 

Sources:
- Seneca, Letter #123: On the Conflict Between Pleasure and Virtue
- Rambam: Peirush ha’Mishnayos, Shemoneh Perakim Chapter 4
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If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.
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Stoic texts:
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Letters from a Stoic Master (Seneca)
The Discourses of Epictetus
The Enchiridion (Handbook) of Epictetus
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