Marcus Aurelius is a purpose-driven guy. As he tells us in his Meditations, he's got no desire to fritter his short life away with "distractions"—pleasure, irritations, or short-lived trash like fame or reputation. As a man of principles, he understands that he has a role to play in the universe—and a duty to get it done.
Marcus has some pretty clear ideas about how to go about doing that, too: avoid pleasure, fear, and emotional drama; honor the gods; serve your fellow man; stay focused on the present. We can see that this dude is anxious to act on each and every one of these guidelines simply by the number of times he mentions them—not to mention the vehemence with which he disses himself for failing. In the end, he knows that his highest duty is to be a good man living in harmony with Reason.
Questions About Duty
- What does Marcus see as his duty towards other human beings? How is he meant to treat them or act toward them?
- What is man's duty concerning the gods, according to Marcus?
- What responsibilities does Marcus have as a rational creature?
- What are his duties toward himself, as both emperor and philosopher?
Chew on This
Marcus never speaks of duty to his family, because his members are just parts of a transient world and shouldn't be valued.
Marcus believes that the gods should be revered even if they don't exist—just in case they do.