Marcus Aurelius may have been the Emperor of Rome, but he still worried about who he really was—and about his purpose in the world. The guy we see in Meditations is someone struggling to fulfill his role as an active political figure—his fated path in life—since that role is often in conflict with the contemplative, philosophical life he wants to live.
Marcus understands that it isn't in the cards for him to be a full-time philosopher, but he can consider who he is and try to figure out his purpose as a citizen of the world. He eventually boils it all down to this: he wants to be a good man who does only what is proper to human nature, as dictated by the gods. Not bad for a full-time emperor.
Questions About Identity
- How are humans different from other creatures in the universe? Why is it important for Marcus to keep this in mind?
- What does Marcus mean when he says that he's "out of tune" with his fellows?
- How are identity and fate linked?
- What does Marcus mean when he talks about work that is "proper to the nature of man"? Why is it essential for him to focus on this kind of work?
Chew on This
Humans don't have the opportunity to create their own identities, since fate and destiny have taken care of all that for them.
Marcus is more concerned about his role as citizen of the universe than he is about his place as first citizen of Rome.