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Tristan Sharp

Professor McCain

Ancient Philosophy

4 November 2011

The Meditations: Marcus Aurelius Section 2

One of the last great emperors of the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius before the

chaotic third century AD, he embraced the stoic philosophy whole heatedly and even

went so far as to gain the nick name Graeculus (little Greek) do to his love of

philosophy. Stoicism is system of thought that drew from the rich heritage of the

Hellenistic thought. It viewed philosophy as a means to achieve an inner sense of

balance or repose in an ever changing world. The Stoics called this ataraxia. The

Mediationswritten when Marcus Aurelius was campaigning against the Allemani in what

is now southern Germany and Austria, is a clear and lucid exposition of Stoic

philosophy and an intimate view into one of the most morally upright man to have been

given the title Augustus and Imperator.

Marcus Aurelius believed that philosophy can provide a solace for the human

condition, a tool unto which we can apply to live better and more ethical lives, while at

the same time maintain a sense of inner calm and composure. His argument is as

follows. If human life via nature is subject to ceaseless change and physical things are

but a flowing stream, then we are led to become discontented with the universe. If we

become discontented with the universe we rebel against nature. If we rebel against

nature we are led to among many other things to do acts at random, without purpose

which in turns violate our soul. This is negative and violates our souls, because we

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violate our souls when we rebel against nature. It is our nature because we are rational

beings and thus teleological beings that pursue ends. Therefore to not pursue ends is to

rebel against our nature, which is the same as rebelling against nature in general. But, if

we study philosophy we guard our inner spirit inviolate and unharmed because we will

not violate our soul because we shall never act aimlessly thus pursuing ends which is

in accordance with our nature. Therefore we should study philosophy.

Marcus Aurelius present an interesting and convincing argument for the study of

philosophy. However there are certain premises that could be open to dispute. The

most disconcerting is that we violate our souls when we become discontented with

universe for there are many things that happen in the universe that would be valid

cause for discontentment such as war, death, famine, disease etc. If we acquiesce to all

that happens in the universe we are liable to fall prey to apathy and not oppose that

which is harmful to ourselves and those around us. This being stated his premise that

human beings are end seeking beings is a profound insight into the human condition

and one that I think is true, for are we not always oriented toward a task as Marcus

Aurelius states even the most trifling actions must be directed toward the end.