Meditations, with selected correspondence

Description

The MEDITATIONS of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) is a private notebook of philosophical reflections, written by a Roman emperor probably on military campaign in Germany. In short, highly charged comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges that he felt acutely, but which are also shared by all human beings—the looming presence of death, making sense of one’s social role and projects, the moral significance of the universe. They bring us closer to the personality of the emperor, who is often disillusioned with his own status and with human activities in general; they are both an historical document and a remarkable spiritual diary. This translation by Robin Hard brings out the eloquence and universality of Marcus’ thoughts. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill place the MEDITATIONS firmly in the ancient philosophical context. A selection of Marcus’ correspondence with his tutor Fronto broadens the picture of the emperor as a person and thinker. [From the back cover] Introduction vii Note on the Text xxv Select Bibliography xxvi A Chronology of Marcus Aurelius xxxi MEDITATIONS BOOK I 3 BOOK 2 10 BOOK 3 16 BOOK 4 23 BOOK 5 35 BOOK 6 46 BOOK 7 58 BOOK 8 70 BOOK 9 82 BOOK I0 93 BOOK II 104 BOOK 12 114 Appendix: A Selection from the Correspondence between Marcus Cornelius Fronto and Marcus Aurelius 122 Explanatory Notes 143 List of Letters Translated 174 Index of Themes 175