The Cambridge Companion to Marcus Aurelius' Meditations

An up-to-date introduction to one of the best-selling philosophy books of all time.

John Sellars (Edited by)

9781108940627, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 July 2025

322 pages
23.1 x 15.1 x 1.9 cm, 0.47 kg

'The Cambridge Companions series has a long and esteemed list of publications that scholars value in their research and teaching. This book follows that established reputation, bringing together a host of knowledgeable international contributors to reflect on Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. … A valuable book for scholars and researchers … Recommended.' J. Gough, Choice

The Meditations of the second-century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is consistently one of the best-selling philosophy books among the general public. Over the years it has also attracted famous admirers, from the Prussian king Frederick the Great to US President Bill Clinton. It continues to attract large numbers of new readers, drawn to its reflections on life and death. Despite this, it is not the sort of text read much by professional philosophers or even, until recently, taken especially seriously by specialists in ancient philosophy. It is a highly personal, easily accessible, yet deceptively simple work. This volume, written by leading experts and aimed at non-specialists, examines the central philosophical ideas in the work and assesses the extent to which Marcus is committed to the philosophy of Stoicism. It also considers how we ought to read this unique work and explores its influence from its first printed publication to today.

Introduction John Sellars
1. Marcus Aurelius: The Man and the Meditations Caillan Davenport
2. The Form and Function of the Meditations as Ethical Self-Cultivation Francesca Alesse
3. Marcus Aurelius and the Earlier Stoic Tradition Benjamin Harriman
4. Nature, Providence, and Fate Gretchen Reydams-Schils
5. Body, Mind, Soul, and Self Lothar Willms
6. Value Judgements and Emotions Jean-Baptiste Gourinat
7. Ethics and Natural Philosophy in Marcus Aurelius Brad Inwood
8. Virtue and Happiness Christopher Gill
9. Human Society and the Cosmic City Jula Wildberger
10. The Early Modern Reception of the Meditations John Sellars
11. Marcus Aurelius among the Psychotherapists Donald Robertson.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]