Exploring the unique tradition of adoption in ancient Rome, the discussion highlights how wealthy families mentored young individuals to shape their legacies. Tales of influential figures like Scipio and Marcus Aurelius illustrate the profound impact of mentorship. The conversation emphasizes the beauty of guiding others, revealing that helping a promising person ascend in life transcends familial bonds. It's a timeless practice that fosters community and collective responsibility, encouraging listeners to consider how they can support others in their journeys.
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Roman Adoption Examples
Scipio Aemilianus, an early Stoic patron, was adopted into the Scipio family.
His brother, Quintus, was adopted by the Fabii family, and Seneca's brother by Lucius Junius Gallio.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Modern Adoption Analogy
Consider mentoring and guiding promising young people.
Share your wisdom and advantages with others, like a modern form of adoption.
insights INSIGHT
Stoic Philosophy on Helping Others
The Stoics believed in shared humanity and a common purpose.
This necessitates helping and supporting others, similar to adoption and advocacy.
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One of the most remarkable traditions of ancient Rome—and one for which we have no real modern analog—was the tradition of wealthy, successful families adopting and raising young men (sometimes women) to be their heir. Scipio Aemilianus, one of the early patrons of Stoicism, for instance, was adopted into the famous Scipio family, while his elder brother Quintus was adopted by the Fabii family, an equally grand legacy.
Seneca was not adopted (nor did he adopt anyone), but his brother Novatus was adopted by Lucius Junius Gallio, an admired rhetorician, and eventually changed his name accordingly. You might be familiar with it, in fact, because Gallio—Seneca’s brother—appears in the Bible, having fairly adjudicated a legal case against the apostle Paul. Marcus Aurelius himself underwent a similar process when Hadrian (adopted by Trajan) adopted Antoninus who in turn adopted Marcus Aurelius.
The point of today’s email is not to tell you to rush out and sign up to be a foster parent—although it would be wonderful if more people did this—but to suggest a more modern analogy. The process of choosing a promising young person, mentoring them, guiding their ascent into public life, looking out for them, helping pass along some of the advantages and wisdom you have accumulated—this is a timeless idea. It makes rational sense why fathers and mothers do this for their own children (and grandchildren) but it is truly beautiful when strangers do it for each other. When we help others get ahead not because they are our blood, but because we see something in them, or simply because we are in the privileged position of having such benefits to share.
Remember, the Stoics believed that we were all in this thing together. That we were all part of the same hive, that we were all serving the same great cause—be it the empire, the nation, the human race—and therefore we are obligated to help others. To lend a hand. To adopt. To advocate for. To cultivate.
The Daily Stoic