Adopted son of the Emperor
Pius, Marcus Aurelius (121-180AD) himself became Roman emperor for almost 20
years until his death in 180 AD. He is known for his only work the Meditations or Writings to Himself, written, according to critics, in the midst of
the Parthian war when he might have better used his time directing the army.
Still, as a ‘converted’ Stoic, he was
greatly concerned with the social problems of the poor, slaves, and the
imprisoned. Despite this, he continued, as emperor, to persecute the increasing
Christian population, undoubtedly because he saw them as a threat to the Roman
religion and way of life, based as this was on conquest, polytheism, and the
deification of dead emperors. His own life ended as a result of the plague
which broke out whilst he was planning a campaign to increase the domain of the
Empire to the north.
The important of his Meditations lies in their practical and
aphoristic Stoic message. A loosely-organized set of thoughts relating to stoic
philosophy, they nevertheless represent an example of a living ethic, of a
teaching closer to religion than to philosophic speculation. For example, the
following is typical of Marcus Aurelius: “The happiness of your life depends on the
quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you
entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”
Like Seneca before him,
Marcus Aurelius believed that a divine providence had placed reason in man, and
it was in the power of man to be one with the rational purpose of the universe.
The Stoic philosophy was primary concerned with living in accordance with both
one’s own nature and universal Nature, perhaps best understood in the sense
meant by Taoist philosophers of the East. Simple living and contentment with
one’s lot go hand in hand with stoicism, but run the risk of leading to
quietism. As a means of social control Stoicism is the ideal ‘religion’, since the more people are
willing to accept the things are just they are, the less trouble they are
likely to give the Emperor. Though it is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius
professed Stoicism for political purposes – the Meditations seem sincere enough
– it is a factor of his philosophy that should not be ignored.
The rationale behind the
Stoic insistence on living ‘in accordance with nature’ stems from a certain
biological outlook. According to the Stoics, all ‘ensouled beings’ (by which they mean to include everything we would
now call ‘sentient life’) strive towards self-preservation. Self-preservation
leads a being to look for that which is in tune with its nature and appropriate
to its own being. Man, being endowed with reason, seeks not just food, warmth
and shelter, but also that which is good for the intellect. Ultimately, Reason
allows us to choose that which is in tune with our true nature with greater
accuracy than if we merely follow our animal instinct.
Central to this Stoic
outlook is an understanding of what constitutes the good or most appropriate
life for human beings. Whilst many thinkers might suppose health and wealth,
the Stoics insist that the ultimate good must be good at all times. It is
conceivable that wealth may be sometimes detrimental to me, and so too, even,
health, if for example, my strength were put to ill-doing. Hence the Stoic conclusion
that the
only infallible good is virtue, which includes the usual list of Greco-Roman
excellences: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
[Summarized from Philosophy 100 Essential Thinkers by
Philip Stokes, 2012. Also watch Philosophers
Note TV: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFUOTYunYPg]
Lord, Give
Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)
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