Dirección espiritual y tanatología filosófica en las cartas de Séneca a Lucilio

The present article is an analysis on the preparation for death in light of the practice of Stoic spiritual direction in the letters to Lucilius. The main intention is to examine the philosophical and therapeutic tenets of Seneca’s philosophical thanatology within the framework of his psychachogy, that is, the “art of leading the soul” through the development of a new disposition towards life and death. On account of this, I will examine the resources employed by the spiritual director in an effort to guide the apprentice through a progressive understanding of two thanatological horizons: 1) the value of death and 2) the transience of life. These are psychcagogical resources that Seneca uses with the purpose of teaching others to free themselves from the fear of death and to live coherently a mortal and full life.