Why this book?
- For direct acquaintance with one of the most important texts of Stoic philosophy.
- For reflection on death, suffering, anger, fame, and the impermanence of life.
- For understanding the distinction between things outside our control and the judgments and actions within our control.
- For seeing philosophy as a practical exercise in self-restraint and care of the mind.
- For thinking about the relationship between individual responsibility, justice, and the common good.
About the book
The Meditations is a collection of personal notes by Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and one of the most famous representatives of Stoic philosophy. These writings were not essentially created for public dissemination; in them, Aurelius speaks to himself and repeatedly reminds himself of the principles he considers essential for living rightly. This very personal character gives the book a tone different from a systematic philosophical treatise.
The book's subjects are wide-ranging, but revolve around several main issues: the brevity and impermanence of life, death, suffering, anger, fame, duty, justice, the human relationship with others, and harmony with nature. Aurelius continually distinguishes between what is within human control and what lies outside it, and focuses his attention on human judgment, intention, and action.
The book consists of short passages, reminders, inner questions, and ethical reflections. As an emperor who faced political power, war, and crisis, Aurelius is concerned less with ruling over others than with the problem of ruling over himself: how not to become angry in the face of insult, not to be seduced by fame, not to fear death, and not to forget justice in our dealings with others.