Related Papers
Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher
2010 •
John Sellars
Mnemosyne
R. B. RUTHERFORD, The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: a Study. Oxford, Univ. Press, 1989. xviii, 282 p. Pr. £30
1992 •
Paul Leunissen
In C. Moore, ed., Brill's Companion to the Reception of Socrates (Leiden: Brill, 2019)
Socratic Themes in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
2019 •
John Sellars
Although Marcus Aurelius refers to Socrates only a handful of times in the Meditations, and often only to name him as an example of an illustrious figure now long dead, this chapter argues that there is a distinctive Socratic character to the philosophical project that we see at work in Marcus's notebook writings. In those few places where Marcus does invoke Socrates it is usually in connection with one of the central preoccupations of the Meditations, in particular the notion of taking care of oneself, the primacy of virtue, and the need for self-control. This chapter i) examines Marcus's knowledge of Socrates and the sources he used, and ii) explores the Socratic themes in the Meditations noted above. Although Marcus does not explicitly say very much about Socrates, I suggest that he probably considered the Meditations to embody a deeply Socratic project.
Forthcoming in M. Garani, D. Konstan, and G. Reydams-Schils, eds, The Oxford Handbook of Roman Philosophy (New York: Oxford University Press)
Marcus Aurelius and the Tradition of Spiritual Exercises
2023 •
John Sellars
Ancient History Encyclopedia
Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher Emperor or Philosopher-King?
2015 •
Steven Umbrello
Was Marcus Aurelius a philosopher king only in the most literal sense, or was he a philosopher-king, as described by Plato in his magnum opus, The Republic? When people call Marcus the Philosopher king it is difficult to discern which of these two types of philosophical monarchs they are referring to. This article will hopefully shed some light on the difference as well as accurately describe Marcus’ philosophic reign.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in Latin
Claude Pavur
A Latin translation of the Greek original of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations.
« The Style of the Meditations », in M. van Ackeren (éd.), The Blackwell Companion to Marcus Aurelius, London, Blackwell, 2012, p. 333-345
Angelo Giavatto
'The "Romanitas" of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations'
Bogdan Burliga
"Always Remember...": The Role and Character of the Citations of Heracl*tus in Marcus Aurelius' Meditations
Max Bergamo
In: "The Limits of Exactitude in Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Literature and Textual Transmission", ed. by N. Bruno, G. Dovico, Olivia Montepaone and M. Pelucchi, Berlin-Boston, De Gruyter («Trends in Classics – Supplementary Volumes» 137), 2022, pp. 231-267 The present paper aims to analyze the citations of Heracl*tus in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. I shall, in particular, try to shed light on the complex dynamics of tradition and innovation which characterize Marcus’ approach to the figure and to the tenets of the Ephesian. In the first place, I shall show that the mentions of the Ephesian in the Meditations mirror the decisive importance and reputation enjoyed by the Presocratic in the Imperial period, when he came to embody the ideal of the Stoic sage. I shall then deal with the key chapter 4.46, where the majority of Heracl*tean citations is to be found. Given the complexity of this passage, I shall propose a possible approach to it through the case study of Marcus Aurelius’ quotation of Heracl*tus’ alleged fragment B75 at 6.42. In the last part of the paper, I shall highlight the relevance of the Stoic exegetical tradition by pointing out two crucial aspects which link the readings put forward in the Meditations to the interpretation of Heracl*tus of the earlier Stoa and perhaps even to its commentary tradition on the Presocratic.
Philosopher King: The Coinage of Marcus Aurelius
Mike Markowitz
OF ALL THE ROMAN EMPERORS, Marcus Aurelius comes down to us across the centuries as perhaps the most likable, because we hear him in his own voice: sensible, dutiful and patient. His book, known to us as The Meditations, survived because it was copied and recopied in medieval monasteries. Marcus wrote in koine, the common Greek used in The New Testament. His coinage extends over four decades (139 – 180 CE) and it also survives in abundance. On it, we see his progress from adolescence to manhood, prematurely aged by hard campaigning and the cares of ruling an Empire in crisis.
