Marcus Aurelius and his doctrine

Bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Glyptothek 

Marcus Aurelius (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD), was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. During his reign, the Empire defeated a revitalized Parthian Empire; Aurelius' general Avidius Cassius sacked the capital Ctesiphon in 164. Aurelius fought the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians with success during the Marcomannic Wars, but the threat of theGermanic tribes began to represent a troubling reality for the Empire. A revolt in the East led by Avidius Cassius failed to gain momentum and was suppressed immediately.

When he was eleven years old he assumed the dress of philosophers, something plain and coarse, became a heard student, and lived a most laborious, abstemious life, even so far as to injure his health. He abadoned poetry and rhetoric for philosophy, and attached himself to the sect of the Stoics. But he did not neglect the study of law, which was useful preparation for the high place which he was designed to fill. 

Marcus Aurelius Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.

It was the doctrine of Marcus Aurelius that most of the ills of life come to us from our own imaginations, that it was not in the power of others seriously to interfere with the calm, temperate life of an individual, and that when we fellow being did anything to us that seemed unjust he was acting in ignorance, and that instead of stirring up anger within us it should stir our pity for him. Oftentimes by careful self examination we should find that the fault was more our own than that of our fellow, and our sufferings were rather from our own opinions than from anything real.

The circle of man's knowledge is very limited, and the largest circles do not wholly include the smalls. They are intersecting the segment common to any two is very small. Whatever lies outside the space does not exists for both. Hence arise innumerable contests. The man having the largest intelligence ought to be very generous to the other. Being thankful that he has been blessed in so many ways, he should do all in his power to enlighten his less favored fellow, rather than be angry with him on account of his misfortune. Is he not sufficiently punished in being denied the light?

Assisting his uncle in the government of the great Roman Empire at seventeen, it was his aim constantly to restrain the power of the string and to assist the weak. It was greatest delight to retire to his country home and there, dwelling among his books, to meditate upon his books, to meditate upon his books, to meditate upon the great problems of life. He claimed that a man's life should be valued according to the value of the things to which he gave his attention. if his whole thought was given to clothing, feeding and housing himself comfortably, he should be valued like other well-housed and well-fed animals. He would, however, derive the greatest pleasure and benefit in this life by acting in accordance with reason, which demands of every human being that his highest faculties should govern all the rest, and that each should see to it that he treated his fellow kindly and generously and that if he could not assist him to a higher level he should at least not stand in his way. 

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