Psychic Turbulence in the Meditations of Saint Augustine

The emperor's meditations fit into a genre of ancient writing in which philosophical themes were woven into an ostentatious display of self conscious virtue. Yet there are signs that marcus is speaking genuinely for himself and to himself, not just trying to impress a learned readership with his erudition and integrity. He gives the credit for such virtue and wisdom as he possesses to a long list of teachers and relations. His adopted father and predecessor as emperor, antoninus pius, receives particular praise for his comprehensive virtue. But most of marcus's influences were teachers. Nothing but the best would do for the young emperor to be.