Pliny the Elder

Gaius Plinius Secundus, (23–79) better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient author and Natural philosopher of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia.

Philosophy

Like many of the finest spirits under the early Empire, Pliny was an adherent to the Stoics. He was acquainted with their noblest representative, Thrasea Paetus, and he also came under the influence of Seneca. The Stoics were given to the study of nature, while their moral teaching was agreeable to one who, in his literary work, was unselfishly eager to benefit and to instruct his contemporaries (Praef. 16, xxviii.2, xxix.1).

Related Topics:
Stoics - Thrasea Paetus - Seneca - Nature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was also influenced by the Epicurean and the Academic and the revived Pythagorean schools. But his view of nature and of God is essentially Stoic. It was only (he declares) the weakness of humanity that had embodied the Being of God in many human forms imbued with human faults and vices (ii.148). The Godhead was really one; it was the soul of the eternal world, displaying its beneficence on the earth, as well as in the sun and stars (ii.12 seq., [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Pliny_the_Elder/2*.html#154 154 seq.).

Related Topics:
Epicurean - Academic - Pythagorean schools - God - Vices - Godhead - Soul - Eternal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The existence of a divine Providence was uncertain (ii.19), but the belief in its existence and in the punishment of wrong-doing was salutary (ii.26); and the reward of virtue consisted in the elevation to Godhead of those who resembled God in doing good to man (ii.18, Deus est mortali juvare mortalem, et haec ad aeternam gloriam via). It was wrong to inquire into the future and do violence to nature by resorting to magical arts (ii.114, xxx.3); but the significance of prodigies and portents is not denied (ii.92, 199, 232).

Related Topics:
Divine Providence - Virtue - Inquire into the future - Magic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pliny's view of life is gloomy; he regards the human race as plunged in ruin and in misery (ii.24, vii.130). Against luxury and moral corruption he indulges in declamations, which are so frequent that (like those of Seneca) they at last pall upon the reader; and his rhetorical flourishes against practically useful inventions (such as the art of navigation) are wanting in good sense and good taste (xix.6).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the proud national spirit of a Roman he combines an admiration of the virtues by which the Republic had attained its greatness (xvi.14, xxvii.3, xxxvii.201). He does not suppress historical facts unfavourable to Rome (xxxiv.139), and while he honours eminent members of distinguished Roman houses, he is free from Livy's undue partiality for the aristocracy. The agricultural classes and the old landlords of the equestrian order (Cincinnatus, Curius Dentatus, Serranus and the Elder Cato) are to him the pillars of the state; and he bitterly laments the decline of agriculture in Italy (xviii.21 and 35, latifundia perdidere Italiam). Accordingly, for the early history of Rome, he prefers following the pre-Augustan writers; but he regards the imperial power as indispensable for the government of the Empire, and he hails the salutaris exortus Vespasiani (xxxiii.51).

Related Topics:
Republic - Livy - Aristocracy - Equestrian - Cincinnatus - Curius Dentatus - Serranus - Cato - Agriculture

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~