"Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way"

Seneca the Younger’s reflection draws attention to the limitations of binary thinking and urges a more nuanced perspective on existence. When he refers to “ignorant people,” he is not insulting, but describing those who view life through a simplistic dichotomy, categorizing all experiences as either existence or non-existence: to be or not to be, to live or to die, to exist or to not exist. Such a viewpoint confines the richness and depth of life to a zero-sum equation, missing the subtleties and mysteries that lie beyond clear boundaries.

In contrast, Seneca identifies the “wise men” as those who do not accept this limited framework. The wise recognize that reality cannot be fully captured by such rigid categorization. Life, for them, is not strictly a matter of being or not being; it encompasses states, experiences, and realities that defy easy definition. There is a realm that transcends both existence and non-existence, an acknowledgment of complexity, change, and the ineffable qualities of life that escape simple logic. This is not merely theoretical, but practical: it calls for humility, for an openness to the unknown, and an appreciation for the profound mysteries that underlie reality.

Seneca points toward the philosophy of the “Middle Way,” a principle most famously articulated in Buddhist thought but echoed in Stoicism and other philosophical traditions. The Middle Way rejects extremes and polarities, advocating for balance, moderation, and an understanding that the truth often lies beyond blunt oppositions. By transcending dualities, the wise find peace and equanimity, appreciating life in its wholeness rather than through the lens of restrictive concepts. Seneca’s observation is thus a call to wisdom: to cultivate the ability to see the world with greater subtlety, to look past apparent contradictions, and to embrace the deeper unity and complexity of existence.