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Marcus Aurelius: Living Philosophy and the Business of Governing an Empire

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Marcus Aurelius: Living Philosophy and the Business of Governing an Empire Marcus Aurelius: Living philosophy and the business of governing an Empire Sylvia Brummer Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University. Supervisor: Prof. Annemaré Kotzé University of Stellenbosch March 2018 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining qualification. March 2018 Copyright© 2018 Stellenbosch University. All rights reserved. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ENGLISH ABSTRACT This study attempts to understand the actions of one specific leader, the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the Roman Empire during the second century CE. Consideration is given to how his decisions and actions were influenced, either consciously or subconsciously by both internal and external influences throughout his reign. In this, the study explores examples from his life and illustrates how both Stoic and Roman ethics may have influenced his leadership decisions, focussed on three specific spheres, namely actions around his familial and friendship relationships with focus on his relationship with his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, his wife, Faustina, his brother, Lucius Verus and his son Commodus; slavery; and the persecution of Christians. Central to the study are two principles which are explored throughout the study in terms of how they relate to the actions of Marcus Aurelius, namely: the principle of philosophy of action and the principle of practical ethics. Chapter one considers introductory issues and the rationale for the study. In chapter two the study examines the formation of the man, Marcus Aurelius, his character, his education and possible influencers that could have contributed to his actions. The chapter provides an historical overview of Marcus Aurelius’ education from childhood through to emperorship and considers his presumed move away from rhetoric to philosophy. Roman and Stoic thought is considered in order to provide a more rounded exploration of the factors that shaped Marcus Aurelius’ decisions and an attempt is also made to understand wider thought in the second century CE in order to provide context within which to view Marcus Aurelius’ thought and actions. In chapter three the purpose of his Meditations is explored in order to provide a view on Marcus Aurelius’ character and philosophical development as it emerges from the themes utilised in the Meditations and highlighting his philosophy of actions. The final chapter considers Marcus Aurelius’ career in respect of the three focus areas. The extent to which his education and philosophical convictions influenced his decisions in these spheres is explored. The chapter also explores certain contradictions found in the image of Marcus Aurelius in order to arrive at a re-evaluation of his political career. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING Hierdie studie poog om die optrede van 'n spesifieke leier, die filosoof-keiser Marcus Aurelius, wat gedurende die tweede eeu na Christus die Romeinse reik regeer het te verstaan. Oorweging word gegee aan hoe sy besluite en optrede deur beide interne en eksterne faktore, bewustelik of onbewustelik beïnvloed is gedurende sy keiserskap. Hiervolgens ondersoek die studie voorbeelde uit sy lewe en illustreer hoe beide Stoïese en Romeinse etiek sy leierskapsbesluite beïnvloed het. Hierdie is dan gefokus op drie spesifieke sfere, naamlik Marcus Aurelius se aksies rondom sy familie- en vriendskap verhoudinge met betrekking tot sy verhoudings met sy aangenome vader, Antoninus Pius, sy vrou, Faustina, sy broer Lucius Verus en sy seun Commodus; slawerny; en die vervolging van Christene. Sentraal tot die studie is twee beginsels wat deur die studie ondersoek word in terme van hoe dit verband hou met die optrede van Marcus Aurelius, naamlik: die beginsel van aksie- filosofie en die beginsel van praktiese etiek. Hoofstuk een behandel inleidende kwessies en die rasionaal vir die studie. In hoofstuk twee van die studie word die vorming van die man, Marcus Aurelius, sy karakter, sy opvoeding asook moontlike invloede wat tot sy optrede kon bydra ondersoek. Die hoofstuk bied 'n historiese oorsig van Marcus Aurelius se opvoeding vanaf kinderjare tot keiserskap en bespreek sy vermeende skuif van retoriek na filosofie. Romeinse en Stoïese gedagtes word ook in oorweging gebring om sodoende ʼn agtergrond te verskaf vir die besluite wat Marcus Aurelius gemaak het. ‘n Poging word ook aangewend om algemene denkpatrone van die tweede eeu te verstaan om sodoende konteks te verskaf waarbinne Marcus Aurelius se gedagtes en optredes oorweeg kan word. In hoofstuk drie van die studie word die doel van die Meditasies ondersoek en 'n geheelbeeld van Marcus Aurelius se karakter en eie filosofie, soos dit blyk uit die temas wat in die Meditasies gebruik word, te beklemtoon. Die laaste hoofstuk ondersoek Marcus Aurelius se loopbaan met ‘n fokus op drie sfere van aksie: sy hantering van kwessies rondom sy persoonlike verhoudinge, slawerny en die vervolging van Christene en die politieke implikasies daarvan. Die mate waartoe sy opvoeding en filosofiese voorkeure sy aksies in hierdie drie sfere beïnvloed het word ook ondersoek. Die hoofstuk skenk ook aandag aan ‘n aantal teenstrydighede in die beeld van Marcus Aurelius en probeer sy politieke loopbaan herevalueer. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za CONTENTS ENGLISH ABSTRACT ii AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING iii CONTENTS iv PREFACE vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 The Aim of the Study 1 1.2 Sources on Marcus Aurelius 6 CHAPTER 2: MARCUS AURELIUS IN CONTEXT 10 2.1 The Formation of the Man 10 2.1.1 Youth 12 2.1.2 Further Education 16 2.2 Philosophy and Roman Ethos 20 2.2.1 Marcus Aurelius’ Conversion to Philosophy 20 2.2.2 Marcus Aurelius the Stoic 26 2.2.3 Stoic Philosophy in Rome 30 2.2.4 Roman and Stoic Thought 33 CHAPTER 3: THE MEDITATIONS 44 3.1 Introduction 44 3.2 Personal Diary or Moral Treatise? 45 3.3 A Window on Marcus Aurelius’ Inner World 52 iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za CHAPTER 4: MARCUS AURELIUS IN ACTION AS THE GOOD PHILOSOPHER-EMPEROR 62 4.1 Introduction 62 4.2 Marcus Aurelius and his Personal Relationships 63 4.2.1 Antoninus Pius 65 4.2.2 Lucius Verus 73 4.2.3 Commodus 77 4.2.4 Faustina 79 4.2.5 Some Concluding Remarks 81 4.3 Marcus Aurelius and Slavery 83 4.4 Marcus Aurelius and the Persecution of the Christians 89 4.5 Some Concluding Remarks 99 CONCLUSION 99 BIBLIOGRAPHY 102 v Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The inspiration for this thesis originated from my love of Rome and my lifelong interest in History. Over the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to travel and Europe has been top of my list during these travels. With each trip I discover new facts and interests about the Ancient world. In 2014 I saw an advertisement in a Sunday Newspaper for a PGD in Ancient Cultures at the University of Stellenbosch and although I am a Communications Manager by trade, my love of history drove me to enter the programme. The programme served to further increase my love of history and awakened a curiosity about all things ancient. Therefore, when I received the opportunity to complete my Masters by writing this thesis, my natural inclination was to combine the communication of leadership and my interest in history. One of my first thoughts was around Marcus Aurelius and the Meditations, which was touched on in a lecture by Professor Annemaré Kotzé. I found it a challenge to explore the actions of a leader and within this process I again realised how important decision-making is as a leadership skill and as a vital competency for any leader. It also accentuated the difference in being a world-leader who had to address a social need, as compared to a leader that formulates strategies on an every-day basis in an organisation. I would not have been able to have completed this course without the support of Professor Kotzé, who guided me in my proposal and taught me how to change my writing from a “Public Relations” style to that of an academic writer. Although we did the mentoring via telephone, Professor Kotzé could successfully guide me in my embryonic thoughts to a different plateau than original planned, but one that has enriched me beyond any measure. She guided my incomplete thoughts into coherent paragraphs and helped me wade through the vast number of works already published on Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism. My enthusiasm for all things Marcus took on a different meaning in my visits to Greece and Rome, where I had an entire tour group assisting me in finding the real Marcus Aurelius. My travels certainly helped give me a different perspective in the course of this process. Back home, I discovered the writings of the renowned scholars that I quote throughout the work. Without their research I would not have been able to even have contemplated a thesis which involved both Philosophy and Religion. Their work made mine so much easier. vi Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za I also have to reserve a special thank you to Marcus Aurelius himself, who helped me grow as an individual through his wise words in the Meditations. Finally, I have to thank my parents. Without the support of my mother, Rita Brummer and my father, Phillip Brummer (who passed away during the process of my Masters), I would never have been able to achieve this distinction.
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