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Meditations
Originally written only for his personal consumption, Marcus Aurelius's
Meditations has become a key text in the understanding of Roman Stoic
philosophy. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by
Martin Hammond and an introduction by Diskin Clay. Written in Greek by
an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the
Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating
spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to
understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt
and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics
as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods
and Aurelius's own emotions. But while the Meditations were composed to
provide personal consolation, in developing his beliefs Marcus also
created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a series of wise
and practical aphorisms that have been consulted and admired by
statesmen, thinkers and ordinary readers for almost two thousand years.
Martin Hammond's new translation fully expresses the intimacy and
eloquence of the original work, with detailed notes elucidating the
text.
This edition also includes an introduction by Diskin Clay, exploring the
nature and development of the Meditations, a chronology, further
reading and full indexes. Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus (121-80) was
adopted by the emperor Antoninus Pius and succeeded him in 161, (as
joint emperor with adoptive brother Lucius Verus). He ruled alone from
169, and spent much of his reign in putting down various rebellions, and
was a persecutor of Christians. His fame rest, above all, on his
Meditations, a series of reflections, strongly influenced by Epictetus,
which represent a Stoic outlook on life. He was succeeded by his natural
son, thus ending the period of the adoptive emperors. If you enjoyed
Meditations, you might like Seneca's Letters from a Stoic, also
available in Penguin Classics.
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