What type of philosophy was Marcus Aurelius?

Stoicism
Growing up, Marcus Aurelius was a dedicated student, learning Latin and Greek. But his greatest intellectual interest was Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasized fate, reason, and self-restraint.

What type of book is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius?

Non-fiction
The Thoughts of the Emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus/Genres

How would you describe Aurelius philosophical standpoint on life?

The second century CE Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was also a Stoic philosopher, and his Meditations, which he wrote to and for himself, offers readers a unique opportunity to see how an ancient person (indeed an emperor) might try to live a Stoic life, according to which only virtue is good, only vice is bad, and the …

What did Marcus Aurelius stand for?

Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. His reign (161–180 CE) marked the end of a period of internal tranquility and good government. After his death the empire quickly descended into civil war. He has symbolized the Golden Age of the Roman Empire for many generations in the West.

Is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius philosophy?

Nevertheless, the Meditations remain essentially a philosophical text. As has already been noted, the Meditations are a personal notebook, written by Marcus to himself and for his own use. They do not form a theoretical treatise designed to argue for a particular doctrine or conclusion; their function is different.

When did Marcus Aurelius write the Meditations?

Misc. Meditations (Koinē Greek: Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized: Ta eis he’auton, lit. ‘things to one’s self’) is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy.

Why did Marcus Aurelius write the meditations?

Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. It is possible that large portions of the work were written at Sirmium, where he spent much time planning military campaigns from 170 to 180.

Who found Marcus Aurelius Meditations?

scholar Angelo Mai
These were discovered in the early 19th century by the Italian scholar Angelo Mai. They give us a remarkable window into the private life of the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. We learn, for instance, that Marcus was, in private, an exceptionally warm and affectionate man.

Who was meditations written for?

Marcus Aurelius
The Thoughts of the Emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus/Authors

Meditations originally had no title and was written by Marcus Aurelius for his own benefit, not for an audience. And it’s funny to think that his writings may be as special as they are because they were never intended for us to be read.

How many useful lessons from Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic philosophy?

So there you have 10 useful lessons from the Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. If you enjoy Stoic Philosophy, you can check out our other pages which include the Great Stoics Seneca and Epictetus. You can also check out a breakdown of another powerful work of stoicism: On the Shortness of Life by Seneca.

What can we learn from Marcus Aurelius’ journals?

There are some great life lessons in Marcus Aurelius’ journals! What amazes me is that these are the journals of the Roman Emperor… almost 2,000 years ago!! Below are some powerful Marcus Aurelius quotes and the lessons I pulled out from them (my interpretation). 1 – We are all one; all interconnected.

What was Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy of the cosmos?

Although they were Marcus’s own thoughts, they were not original. They are basically the moral tenets of Stoicism, learned from Epictetus: the cosmos is a unity governed by an intelligence, and the human soul is a part of that divine intelligence and can therefore stand, if naked and alone, at least pure and undefiled, amid chaos and futility.

Is Marcus Aurelius’s choice of his only surviving son a tragic paradox?

Marcus’s choice of his only surviving son as his successor has always been viewed as a tragic paradox.