Wednesday Wisdom

WHO?

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman philosopher and statesman who ruled as the emperor of Rome from 161AD to 180AD. He is considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers, and his writings have had a significant influence on Western philosophy. Aurelius is remembered for his philosophical beliefs, which emphasized the importance of living in accordance with reason, virtue, and duty, and for his efforts as Emperor to improve the lives of the poor and oppressed.

The philosophy of Stoicism is a system of ethics developed by the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BC. The central tenets of Stoicism espouse virtue as the only good and vice as the only evil. According to the Stoics, the universe is governed by reason (logic), one should focus on what we can control, and let go of what we cannot control all while living in accordance with nature.

What he produced

He is best known for his philosophical writings, particularly his Meditations, a series of personal reflections on ethics, Stoic philosophy, and life in general. Marcus Aurelius was known for his wisdom and his dedication to living a virtuous life, and his philosophical writings have influenced many people throughout the centuries. It is considered one of the most essential texts in the history of Western philosophy, and it has had a lasting influence on many people throughout the centuries. The book is written as a series of notes or musings that Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself, and it covers a wide range of topics, including ethics, Stoic philosophy, and the nature of the universe. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius reflects on his own life and the lessons he has learned. He encourages readers to think deeply about their own lives and strive to live virtuous life in accordance with nature.

2022 why do we care?

The word "meditation" in the title of Marcus Aurelius's book refers to his reflections or musings, rather than a specific practice of meditation as it is commonly understood today. However, the philosophy of Stoicism, which Marcus Aurelius practiced and wrote about in Meditations, does place a strong emphasis on the practice of mindfulness and being present in the moment. This could be seen as similar to certain forms of meditation, as both practices involve a focus on the present moment and the cultivation of mental clarity and awareness. In his writings, Marcus Aurelius advises his readers to cultivate a calm and rational mind and to be mindful of their thoughts and actions in order to live a virtuous life.

Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditations as a series of personal reflections or notes that he wrote to himself, so in that sense, it could be seen as a kind of journal. Journaling is the act of writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal or diary. It is a way to process your emotions, reflects on your experiences, and document your personal growth. Some people may find it helpful, as Aurelius did, to keep a journal or to write down their own thoughts and reflections as a way of exploring their own values and goals in life. 

Journaling, like meditation, is a way to unclutter your mind. Putting it to paper or writing it down, seemingly has several effects which are universal to Stoicism. It improves one reasoning through clarity and allows one to focus on priorities while removing angst. It also allows one to be accountable and through gratitude allows one to live in accordance with nature. As Aurelius writes in Meditations "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. . . . Make yourself accountable for a specific time. . . . Know what it is that you want. . . . Keep yourself simple, good, pure, serious, unpretentious, a friend of justice, god-fearing, strong for the right, a lover of hard work, upright".

In this passage, Marcus Aurelius advises his readers to set goals, to be honest with themselves, and to strive to live in a way that is virtuous and in accordance with their values. He also advises them to be accountable for their actions and to take responsibility for their own lives.

One of the simple methods to journaling, because it can be both tedious and repetitive, is to write down at the end of the day one thing you accomplished, one thing that was stressful or caused anxiety, and one point of gratitude. A simple but effective way to journal and practice to Stoicism.

 As we look toward the new year, I am reminded of Robert Frost's famous poem Stopping by woods on a snowy evening. In this poem, Frost concludes, "But I have many promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep. While this poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, the last stanza could easily serve as an analogy for setting goals for a year ahead. And perhaps, Marcus Aurelius and the wisdom of Stoicism is the tool to bring a successful 2023.

A Happy New Year to all......................

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, and science.

METAPHYSICS: Literally, the term metaphysics means ‘beyond the physical.’ Typically, this is the branch that most people think of when they picture philosophy. In metaphysics, the goal is to answer the what and how questions in life. Who are we, and what are time and space?

LOGIC: The study of reasoning. Much like metaphysics, understanding logic helps to understand and appreciate how we perceive the rest of our world. More than that, it provides a foundation for which to build and interpret arguments and analyses.

ETHICS: The study of morality, right and wrong, good and evil. Ethics tackles difficult conversations by adding weight to actions and decisions. Politics takes ethics to a larger scale, applying it to a group (or groups) of people. Political philosophers study political governments, laws, justice, authority, rights, liberty, ethics, and much more.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EPISTEMOLOGY: This is the study and understanding of knowledge. The main question is how do we know? We can question the limitations of logic, how comprehension works, and the ability (or perception) to be certain.