Basically, the Meditations is just a notebook of principles written by Marcus Aurelius to himself. His commitment to Stoic philosophy meant that above all things, Marcus wanted to act in accordance with his proper nature, as determined by the Universal Mind.
Sound complicated? That's because it kind of is—and that's why Marcus needed to work through his thoughts in writing. The constant reiteration of certain ideals doesn't tell us that Marcus was a bad writer who couldn't keep track of his content. It means that at various times in his life, he needed to remind himself who he was and what he was striving for. It also tells us that he took his principles very seriously—they were important enough for him to keep thinking about them throughout his life.
Questions About Principles
- What is the purpose of following philosophical principles, according to Marcus?
- What qualities does Marcus consider to be inherent parts of human nature? Which characteristics are outside of it?
- How does Marcus view fear?
- How do humans achieve freedom through the applications of these principles, in Marcus's way of thinking?
Chew on This
Marcus repeats his principles so often in the Meditations because he's trying to convince himself to be better. It's clear that he's not really following all of his precepts very well.
Though Marcus believes that humans were made to advance the common good, his definition of community is pretty narrow.