4.
Nature could not teach us this directly; she has given us the seeds of knowledge, but not knowledge itself.
Some say that we merely happened upon this knowledge; but it is unbelievable that a vision of virtue could have presented itself to anyone by mere chance.
We believe that it is inference due to observation, a comparison of events that have occurred frequently; our school of philosophy hold that the honourable and the good have been comprehended by analogy.
Since the word “analogy” has been admitted to citizen rank by Latin scholars, I do not think that it ought to be condemned, but I do think it should be brought into the citizenship which it can justly claim.
I shall, therefore, make use of the word, not merely as admitted, but as established.
Now what this “analogy” is, I shall explain.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: More about virtue
Location: Chapter 120, Section 4
Content:
4.
Nature could not teach us this directly; she has given us the seeds of knowledge, but not knowledge itself.
Some say that we merely happened upon this knowledge; but it is unbelievable that a vision of virtue could have presented itself to anyone by mere chance.
We believe that it is inference due to observation, a comparison of events that have occurred frequently; our school of philosophy hold that the honourable and the good have been comprehended by analogy.
Since the word “analogy” has been admitted to citizen rank by Latin scholars, I do not think that it ought to be condemned, but I do think it should be brought into the citizenship which it can justly claim.
I shall, therefore, make use of the word, not merely as admitted, but as established.
Now what this “analogy” is, I shall explain.