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Acquaintance with philosophical classic of the Stoa.

Marcus Aurelius (121-180) was a powerful Roman emporer at the end of a long period of inner and outer peace and prosperity. Due to the beginning migration of Germanic tribes into the Empire Marcus Aurelius had to spent most of his last years in military camps far away from Rome.

In this time he wrote his Meditations - reflectons on how we should live and on the meaning of human life. In the seminar we will read this text and, if required, secondary literature in order to discover the answers given by this emporer-philosopher.

Student presentations, group discussions.

Three short essays (4-5 pages each) instead of a long seminar paper.

Marcus Aurelius, Selbstbetrachtungen.
Pierre Hadot, The Inner Citadel. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Harvard University Press 1998.
Further literature will be announced during the course.

For Bachelor's Programme in  Philosophy at the Catholic Theology Faculty (C 033 194): positive completion of compulsory modules 2 and 3.

The Meditationes are available in German; secondary literature can also be in English.