Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History / The Stoic Teachers of Marcus Aurelius
Transcript
- Lucas: So, Luna, we've talked a lot about Marcus Aurelius as emperor, as a writer, as a general. But I want to go back to something foundational: who actually made him a philosopher? Luna: His teachers, right? He thanks them in the first book of the Meditations. Lucas: Exactly. Book One is essentially a list of acknowledgments to everyone who shaped him. It's a deeply personal document. And among the most important are his Stoic teachers. He had several, and each brought something different. Lucas: The first he mentions is Junius Rusticus. Now, Rusticus wasn't just any philosopher — he was a descendant of the Stoic writer Arulenus Rusticus, who was executed under Domitian. So he came from a tradition of intellectual resistance. Marcus says Rusticus showed him the writings of Epictetus, which became a cornerstone of his own philosophy. Luna: So Rusticus literally handed him Epictetus? That's a big moment. Lucas: It really is. Marcus writes that Rusticus 'made me desire an iron bedstead, a skin cover, and the other things that belong to the Greek discipline.' That's a very practical, almost ascetic Stoicism. Rusticus also discouraged him from rhetoric and poetry — pushed him toward plain, direct speech. That influence is all over the Meditations. Luna: I can see that. The Meditations are very stripped down, no flourishes. Lucas: If today gave you a real sense of what shaped Marcus — if that landed — the way this show stays ad-free is through listener support. It's simple: buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Helps keep these deep dives coming, no ads. Luna: Absolutely. I know I'd miss these conversations if they disappeared behind a paywall. Lucas: So back to the teachers. The next figure Marcus mentions is Apollonius of Chalcedon. He was a Stoic philosopher brought to Rome by Marcus's adoptive father, Antoninus Pius. Marcus studied with him for years. Luna: What did Apollonius teach him? Lucas: Apollonius was known for his discipline and his indifference to external comforts. Marcus says he learned from him 'the freedom of will, and the unchangeable purpose.' Also: 'to look at nothing else, not even for a moment, except reason.' That's pure Stoic resolve. Apollonius also taught him to be equally patient with the educated and the uneducated, which is a pretty generous attitude for an emperor. Luna: That sounds hard, especially when you're surrounded by sycophants. Lucas: Then there's Sextus of Chaeronea. He was a nephew of Plutarch, and his specialty was kindness. Marcus says Sextus taught him 'a tolerant disposition, and the pattern of a family governed lovingly.' That's a different side of Stoicism — not just discipline, but warmth and forgiveness. Lucas: From Claudius Maximus, Marcus learned self-mastery. Maximus was a Stoic who embodied cheerfulness in the face of adversity, and Marcus says he never saw him 'downcast or bewildered.' That's a huge compliment. Luna: So each teacher modeled a specific virtue. It's almost like a mosaic of the ideal Stoic. Lucas: Exactly. And Marcus also credits Cinna Catulus, who taught him not to dismiss the opinions of friends, and 'not to quarrel with people who get carried away by an impulse.' That's practical diplomacy. He also mentions his adoptive father Antoninus Pius, of course, but we've covered that elsewhere. Lucas: What's remarkable is that Marcus didn't just mention these teachers — he kept their teachings alive. Even after he became emperor, he would invite philosophers to court, continue his studies, and write in his own notebooks. Luna: So the Meditations are like a living record of everything they gave him. Lucas: Absolutely. And we can see that influence in his policies. For example, his legal reforms emphasized fairness and natural law — that's the Stoic idea of a universal reason governing the world. His tolerance of Christianity, at least initially, might reflect what he learned from Sextus about kindness and patience. Luna: It's almost like he governed out of gratitude to his teachers. Lucas: That's a beautiful way to put it. And he didn't just learn from philosophers — he also had teachers in rhetoric, law, and grammar, but the Stoics were the ones who shaped his character. In a way, the Meditations is his final thank-you note to them, written on campaign in the mud and cold. Luna: It makes me wonder: who would be in our 'Book One' if we wrote one? Lucas: That's exactly the kind of reflection Marcus would have approved of. So next time you read the Meditations, remember: behind every line is a teacher who showed him the way. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. I'm actually going to go back and read Book One more carefully. Lucas: Do it. And if you want to explore more, the standard translation by Gregory Hays is fantastic. But the original Greek has its own rhythm too.