Lucius Annaeus Seneca and Metrodoros from Lampsakos offer opposing philosophic perspectives on balancing career and parenting. Seneca, a Stoic, believes work fulfillment is most important and that duty to one's career should not be affected by personal relationships. He advocates maintaining emotional detachment. Metrodoros, an Epicurean, argues that children's education and family time should be top priorities. He recommends relaxing more, enjoying simple pleasures, and focusing less on work and society to improve quality of life. The NewTopian Times article presents each philosopher's view for readers to consider.

1. NewTopian Times:
Life style - manual:
Are you often stressed from the balance between your career and your child? Do you want
more time with your child? You don't manage to combine your career and the time with your
child?
Then you should not miss the next sides, because we dealt with the question: What do you
have to do when you are alone with your child and you dont want to neglect your job?
We invited two philosophers who not could be more different. On the one hand, Stoician
Lucius Annaeus Seneca and on the other hand Epicurean Metrodoros from Lampsakos. Both
of them dealt with the same question we had given to them and responded from their own
philosophic point of view:
NewTopian Times: It's difficult in our times to combine job and carreer with bringing up your
children properly. Especially young women often feel left alone in this situation or suffer from
a bad conscience. - What philosophic help could you offer them, Mr Seneca?
Lucius Annaeus Seneca:
In my opinion, work and fulfilment is above anything else and also above our children. Work
is one kind of duty and we should fulfil this. Despite my view that for me the main point
work, I think we have to keep in our mind that the children are our future.
They learn from us and rely on us. So you should have a good balance between your career
and the education of your children.Certainly it is more difficult when you alone are
responsible instead of being in a good relationship. I as a Stoician would always keep my
focus on my duty and I would never let me affect me from any personal relationship.We
Stoicians call this kind of life apátheia: you are free from all emotions and you don't allow
any emotional or affective influence by anybody. The reason for this is that the fulfilment of
duty and my sense of duty is my very priority. - And there is another point: You can see that
our work should have be the main point in our life, because without any kind of work we
would not lead a serious life. Practising our work enables us to find a quality, a reasonable
way of living. You can decide by yourself how you want to live.... When we are fixed

2. exclusively on our work and we make a lot for it, then our way of living is also completely
different. But be aware: You should see your work as a duty, not with any kind of emotions,
you only have to do your work in a good way. And it's the same when we bring up our
children: When we are fixed more of the statement that our children are the future of our
society and that it is our duty to work for this society, than we automatically have another
style of living, because we are not focused on ourselves only.
NewTopian Times: Thank you, Mr Seneca, for this convincing explanation. And, Mr
Metrodoros, what advice would you like to give?
Metrodoros from Lampsakos:
In my opinion, our children and their education has to be above everthing. I think it is very
important for us that we are concentrate on the future of our children, because they are those
who will support us and take care of us in the future. When we are getting older, then we will
depent on our children and I think therefore the education of our children and the time which
we spend together is very important for our life, also for society, yes, of course, but mainly for
our personal well being. I think our life has to be more quiet and calm and we should stop
suffering from a stressful working day. In my opinion this is not a good way of life. I think we
should relax frequently for example just sitting in the garden and drink a wine it could be
helpful. You should enjoy every single day, should do what makes you happy and you
shouldn't rely on other persons or circumstances. We call this state of mind ataraxía – a calm
and pleasant feeling without too much influence given to the world outside your home.
My result is that you need more time with your children and your family and you should do
more for them instead of always thinking on your work, the society and political activity. You
don't need to earn much money. You can cope with small things. They also make your life
joyful and pleasant, for example playing with your children outside in the garden or a play
ground doesn't cost anything, but makes you and your children feel good and satisfied. So I
can tell you: When you live your life more quietly and change your priorities, then your
quality of life is good and strong.
NewTopianTimes: Thank you as well, Mr Metrodoros. And now it is up to our readers to
decide which advice seems more convincing to them.

3. Our life style experts were: Laura K. and Eske R. from Wilhelmshaven