The inner citadel : the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

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Bibliographic Information

The inner citadel : the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Pierre Hadot ; translated by Michael Chase

Harvard University Press, 1998

Other Title

La citadelle intérieure : introduction aux "Pensées" de Marc Aurèle

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Note

Translation of: La citadelle intérieure. 1992

Includes bibliographical references (p. [317]-338) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The "Meditations" of Marcus Aurelius is seen as one of the three most important expressions of Stoicism. Pierre Hadot here uncovers levels of meaning and expands the understanding of its underlying philosophy through what he argues are the deceptive clarity and ease of the work's style. Written by the Roman emperor for his own private guidance and self-admonition, the "Meditations" set forth principles for living a good and just life. Hadot probes Marcus Aurelius's guidelines and convictions and discerns the conceptual system that grounds them. Quoting the "Meditations" to illustrate his analysis, Hadot unfolds the philosophical context of the "Meditations", commenting on the philosophers Marcus Aurelius read and giving special attention to the teachings of Epictetus, whose disciple he was. The soul, the guiding principle within us, is in Marcus Aurelius's Stoic philosophy an invoilable stronghold of freedom, the "inner citadel". This study offers a picture of the philosopher-emperor, a fuller understanding of the tradition and doctrines of Stoicism, and insight on the culture of the Roman empire in the 2nd century.

Table of Contents

  • The emperor-philosopher
  • a first glimpse of the "Meditations"
  • the "Meditations" as spiritual exercises
  • the philosopher-slave and the emperor-philosopher
  • the stoicism of Epictetus
  • the inner citadel, or the discipline of assent
  • the dicipline of desire or Amor Fati
  • the discipline of action, or action in the service of mankind
  • virtue and joy
  • Marcus Aurelius in his "Meditations".

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