The idea of the christian emperor finds a formation in marcus aurelius as a stoic. The idea that you could do it through self control and through decency was a very important part of self justification for the victorians. And i strongly agree with the stoic emphasis, and particularly marcus's emphasis, on trying to cultivate one's own virtues. It can be helpful to focus on enjoying the positive, preferable, in stoic terms, the preferable, things about one's present situation.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the man who, according to Machiavelli, was the last of the Five Good Emperors. Marcus Aurelius, 121 to 180 AD, has long been known as a model of the philosopher king, a Stoic who, while on military campaigns, compiled ideas on how best to live his life, and how best to rule. These ideas became known as his Meditations, and they have been treasured by many as an insight into the mind of a Roman emperor, and an example of how to avoid the corruption of power in turbulent times.
The image above shows part of a bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
With
Simon Goldhill
Professor of Greek Literature and Culture and Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge
Angie Hobbs
Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield
And
Catharine Edwards
Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Birkbeck, University of London
Producer: Simon Tillotson