The Socrates Café — Philosophers Quotes Edition - Oba 7th floor.
About the event
This is a new edition of the Socrates cafe with a new format.
In this edition, the moderator will pick a specific quote, topic or question from a known philosophers (example; Voltaire, Kant, Marcus Aurelius, Hypatia of Alexandria, Rousseau, Machiavelli, Descartes, Plato and others).
A summary around a page will be provided in the event *(See below - The topic of this Session)*
Please take the time to read.
The Moderator will read the summary and give an introduction of the topic. Then, we will have an open discussion, and a final round when everyone will give their conclusions.
The topic of this Session Seneca - "Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life."
Meaning of quote: This quote is attributed to the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca, appearing in his Letters to Lucilius (specifically Letter 101). The text advises readers to stop treating the present as a rehearsal for a future that may never arrive, emphasizing that life is finite and uncertain.
By treating each 24-hour period as a complete, standalone life, individuals can:
Eliminate anxiety about the future by focusing entirely on the present moment. Reset daily, allowing previous failures or wasted time to be left behind rather than carried forward.
Find completeness in ordinary days, judging them by their own internal quality rather than their contribution to long-term, unfinished projects. Seneca argues that this mindset prevents the common trap of postponing true living until "someday," ensuring that one’s days are balanced and purposeful every evening.
About the Philosopher:
Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE – 65 CE) was a prominent Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and playwright born in Corduba, Spain. He is best known for his extensive writings on moral issues, including the Moral Epistles and essays like On the Shortness of Life, which emphasize virtue, resilience, and living in accordance with nature.
Politically, Seneca served as a tutor and advisor to the young Emperor Nero from 54 to 62 CE, helping to steer early policies toward tolerance and justice.
However, his influence waned as Nero became increasingly tyrannical, leading to Seneca's forced retirement and eventual compelled suicide in 65 CE after being implicated in the Pisonian conspiracy.
His legacy remains complex; while he is celebrated as a leading intellectual figure of the Silver Age of Latin Literature and a key transmitter of Stoic thought, he is also viewed by some as a controversial figure due to the perceived contradiction between his philosophical teachings on simplicity and his immense personal wealth and political power.
RULES
1. Please be on time! We will start at 19:00 so if you arrive late, please join quietly. If you are a first timer, make sure you take extra time for finding the location. 2. If something unexpected happens, please cancel as soon as possible. There's lovely people on the waiting list 3. If you repeatedly sign up and don’t show up, you can expect to be moved to the waitlist next time. 4. You may disagree with others, but please do so respectfully without personal attacks. 5. Please keep your attendance to one event per week to ensure everyone has an opportunity to attend. 6. Just to meet expectations, this is a Philosophy event to discuss Philosophy and this event's PRIMARY function is NOT focused on Self Help/Psychology or Theology. Though those topics can be a point of discussion from time to time. Please take that into consideration when signing up!
See you soon!
