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I've never heard of any ancient philosopher being abhorrent about slavery and the like and I've read that there weren't any. Could you point to some readings i
by obedm 5y ago
I've never heard of any ancient philosopher being abhorrent about slavery and the like and I've read that there weren't any.
Could you point to some readings if you're aware of it? I'd love to know
- MatteoFrigo 5y agoSeneca had a somewhat more humane attitude towards slavery. See e.g. https://figsinwinter.medium.com/seneca-to-lucilius-47-on-slaves-and-human-beings-f13602f62b46 https://figsinwinter.medium.com/seneca-to-lucilius-47-on-sla...
- hutzlibu 5y agoAnd then from inside your link, there seemed to be even more critical voices: "Then again, the Stoics were famous for challenging common conceptions, and the founder of the school, Zeno of Citium, had declared slavery an evil in his Republic"
- obedm 5y agoHe acknowledged their existence but as far as I know, he, not anyone else, said that slaving people was "wrong" or shouldn't be done. It's important to note that Ceneca and the famous stoics (Marcus Aurelius for example) were rich and benefitted greatly from the status quo.
- hutzlibu 5y agoSo now I think it is a shame, that I barely ever heard of him, despite having heard from all the others great (but slavery endorsing) greek minds. And sure, slavery was very common everywhere at that time. One more reason maybe to celebrate early free thinkers?
- jjeaff 5y agoMost philosophers likely come from the elite classes in the past. You don't have time to sit around and think and write if you have to worry where your next meal comes from.