MARCUS AURELIUS. 2013

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one”.

MARCUS AURELIUS – emperor of Rome from the Antoninus dynasty, humanist philosopher, representative of late stoicism (121-180).

Marcus Aurelius is called the “philosopher on the throne”. He professed the principles of stoicism, gave ethical teachings, conducted an assessment of life from the philosophical and moral side, and gave advice on how to relate to it. He  was the last of the glorious Five Good Emperors – Nerva, Trajan, Adrian and Antoninus Pius, whose rule became the Golden Age in the history of Rome.

Having become a Roman emperor in 161, at the age of 40, “he demonstrated exceptional tact in all cases when it was necessary either to keep people from evil or to induce them to good, he made bad people good and good people excellent.” Marcus Aurelius sought to create a kingdom of philosophers, the ideal state, of which Plato dreamed. Former teachers and mentors of the emperor became Roman consuls, occupied important posts in the state. Established in Athens 4 departments of philosophy, supported the development of science and shipbuilding.

WORKS “Meditations” .