Abstract
AbstractThe Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius addresses himself more directly than any other ancient author. In his Meditations (literally Books to Himself) he reviews his life from subjective and objective perspectives. He sees himself both as a part of nature’s causality, and as an autonomous agent whose essence is his internal divinity. His self-model is threefold, consisting of body, breath, and intellect. His practice of self-management focuses on treating his present consciousness and agency as the only reality that he must confront, in order to adapt himself to his external situation as a rational and social creature.
Publisher
Oxford University PressOxford