Marcus Aurelius : living philosophy and the business of governing an empire

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dc.contributor.advisorKotze, Annemareen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBrummer, Sylviaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-26T19:43:10Z
dc.date.accessioned2018-04-09T06:53:44Z
dc.date.available2018-02-26T19:43:10Z
dc.date.available2018-04-09T06:53:44Z
dc.date.issued2018-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to understand the actions of one specific leader, the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the Roman Empire during the second century CE. Consideration is given to how his decisions and actions were influenced, either consciously or subconsciously by both internal and external influences throughout his reign. In this, the study explores examples from his life and illustrates how both Stoic and Roman ethics may have influenced his leadership decisions, focussed on three specific spheres, namely actions around his familial and friendship relationships with focus on his relationship with his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, his wife, Faustina, his brother, Lucius Verus and his son Commodus; slavery; and the persecution of Christians. Central to the study are two principles which are explored throughout the study in terms of how they relate to the actions of Marcus Aurelius, namely: the principle of philosophy of action and the principle of practical ethics. Chapter one considers introductory issues and the rationale for the study. In chapter two the study examines the formation of the man, Marcus Aurelius, his character, his education and possible influencers that could have contributed to his actions. The chapter provides an historical overview of Marcus Aurelius’ education from childhood through to emperorship and considers his presumed move away from rhetoric to philosophy. Roman and Stoic thought is considered in order to provide a more rounded exploration of the factors that shaped Marcus Aurelius’ decisions and an attempt is also made to understand wider thought in the second century CE in order to provide context within which to view Marcus Aurelius’ thought and actions. In chapter three the purpose of his Meditations is explored in order to provide a view on Marcus Aurelius’ character and philosophical development as it emerges from the themes utilised in the Meditations and highlighting his philosophy of actions. The final chapter considers Marcus Aurelius’ career in respect of the three focus areas. The extent to which his education and philosophical convictions influenced his decisions in these spheres is explored. The chapter also explores certain contradictions found in the image of Marcus Aurelius in order to arrive at a re-evaluation of his political career.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om die optrede van 'n spesifieke leier, die filosoof-keiser Marcus Aurelius, wat gedurende die tweede eeu na Christus die Romeinse reik regeer het te verstaan. Oorweging word gegee aan hoe sy besluite en optrede deur beide interne en eksterne faktore, bewustelik of onbewustelik beïnvloed is gedurende sy keiserskap. Hiervolgens ondersoek die studie voorbeelde uit sy lewe en illustreer hoe beide Stoïese en Romeinse etiek sy leierskapsbesluite beïnvloed het. Hierdie is dan gefokus op drie spesifieke sfere, naamlik Marcus Aurelius se aksies rondom sy familie- en vriendskap verhoudinge met betrekking tot sy verhoudings met sy aangenome vader, Antoninus Pius, sy vrou, Faustina, sy broer Lucius Verus en sy seun Commodus; slawerny; en die vervolging van Christene. Sentraal tot die studie is twee beginsels wat deur die studie ondersoek word in terme van hoe dit verband hou met die optrede van Marcus Aurelius, naamlik: die beginsel van aksie-filosofie en die beginsel van praktiese etiek. Hoofstuk een behandel inleidende kwessies en die rasionaal vir die studie. In hoofstuk twee van die studie word die vorming van die man, Marcus Aurelius, sy karakter, sy opvoeding asook moontlike invloede wat tot sy optrede kon bydra ondersoek. Die hoofstuk bied 'n historiese oorsig van Marcus Aurelius se opvoeding vanaf kinderjare tot keiserskap en bespreek sy vermeende skuif van retoriek na filosofie. Romeinse en Stoïese gedagtes word ook in oorweging gebring om sodoende ʼn agtergrond te verskaf vir die besluite wat Marcus Aurelius gemaak het. ‘n Poging word ook aangewend om algemene denkpatrone van die tweede eeu te verstaan om sodoende konteks te verskaf waarbinne Marcus Aurelius se gedagtes en optredes oorweeg kan word. In hoofstuk drie van die studie word die doel van die Meditasies ondersoek en 'n geheelbeeld van Marcus Aurelius se karakter en eie filosofie, soos dit blyk uit die temas wat in die Meditasies gebruik word, te beklemtoon. Die laaste hoofstuk ondersoek Marcus Aurelius se loopbaan met ‘n fokus op drie sfere van aksie: sy hantering van kwessies rondom sy persoonlike verhoudinge, slawerny en die vervolging van Christene en die politieke implikasies daarvan. Die mate waartoe sy opvoeding en filosofiese voorkeure sy aksies in hierdie drie sfere beïnvloed het word ook ondersoek. Die hoofstuk skenk ook aandag aan ‘n aantal teenstrydighede in die beeld van Marcus Aurelius en probeer sy politieke loopbaan herevalueer.af_ZA
dc.format.extent113 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103349
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectMarcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, 121-180en_ZA
dc.subjectMarcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, 121-180 -- Criticism and interpretationen_ZA
dc.subjectMarcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, 121-180 -- Meditationsen_ZA
dc.subjectPhilosophy, Ancienten_ZA
dc.subjectUCTDen_ZA
dc.titleMarcus Aurelius : living philosophy and the business of governing an empireen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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