Marcus Aurelius' temperance stood in contrast to the notorious self-indulgence of his adoptive brother and co-emperor Lucius Verus. From the way Roman historians describe him, it appears likely that he was an alcoholic we're pretty much told that. In my recent book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, I use stories from the life of Marcus Aurelius to illustrate ways stoicism can be applied in practice to help us deal with psychological problems today.
How to drink like a Roman emperor, if that emperor is Marcus Aurelius. In this episode I explore the relationship between Stoic philosophy and the Twelve Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, discussing how Stoicism can help those suffering from alcoholism, as well as their friends and families. I spot parallels between the Twelve Step advice and Stoic teachings, and give examples from the life of Marcus Aurelius. I talk about how his wayward brother, and co-emperor, Lucius Verus, was almost certainly an alcoholic. Also, Frank, retired NYPD police officer, shares his experience of combining Stoicism the Twelve Step Program.
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The original article is available on Substack, titled How to Drink Like a Roman Emperor.
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