Alone with Oneself

Marcus Aurelius — Roman emperor from the Antonine dynasty, philosopher, follower of Epictetus, the last of the "five good emperors." After his death, Marcus Aurelius was officially deified. His reign is considered a golden age in ancient historical tradition. Marcus Aurelius is called the "philosopher on the throne." The emperor left philosophical writings — 12 books written in Greek, which are usually combined into one edition titled "Alone with Oneself." The main focus of his notes is the evaluation of life from a philosophical and moral perspective and advice on how to approach it. The preceding tradition of Stoicism distinguished between the body and the soul, but Marcus Aurelius adds the mind, which he considers the dominant principle. According to his philosophy, one should strive for complete apathy. Only then, in accordance with the universal reason, can happiness be achieved. The literary talent of Marcus Aurelius, as well as the ever-relevant philosophy of Stoicism, have made "Alone with Oneself" one of the key works in Roman literature and history, which is still read with interest today.