Philosophize This! – Episode #236: Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
Release Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Stephen West
Episode Overview
In this episode, Stephen West explores Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, framing it both as a classic of Stoic thought and as a misunderstood or even overrated book. West breaks down the nuanced differences between Stoicism as a comprehensive philosophy, Stoic ethics, and the unique nature of Meditations as a personal journal. He provides historical context, discusses key Stoic concepts, and analyzes why Stoicism has resurged in popularity in today's anxious, unpredictable world. The episode is rich in direct quotes and memorable insights from Aurelius, while also questioning the limitations and enduring utility of Stoicism.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Understanding the Three Layers: Stoicism, Stoic Ethics, and Meditations
[00:40–05:14]
- Stoicism as a Whole: A broad philosophical system encompassing metaphysics, knowledge, ethics, and more.
- Stoic Ethics: A subset focusing on how one should behave, often isolated in modern interpretations.
- Meditations: Distinct from both; it’s Marcus Aurelius’ personal diary of moral exercises, never intended as a published philosophical treatise.
“Understanding how very different these three things are will bring you a lot of clarity about Meditations as a book.” – Stephen West [02:35]
2. Was Marcus Aurelius a Philosopher?
[05:15–10:40]
- Aurelius didn’t see himself as a philosopher in the traditional sense; he admitted to not having spent his life studying or pushing philosophical ideas forward.
- Meditations was compiled posthumously from private journals focused on his own struggles and reflections.
"You know, you haven’t spent your whole life studying and living as a philosopher. ... You should be grateful, he says, if you can just find a way to live out the rest of the time you have here, truly living as a virtuous person." – Marcus Aurelius (paraphrased by West) [09:18]
3. Historical and Personal Context
[10:41–14:47]
- Aurelius wrote Meditations during various tumultuous phases: war, plague, and personal loss.
- Each “book” of Meditations reflects a different period and mood in his life, with Book 1 being a list of gratitudes and subsequent books responding to immediate crises (e.g., war with the Quadi).
4. Stoic Exercises and the Premeditation of Evils
[14:48–19:10]
- Aurelius practiced the “premeditation of evils,” reminding himself each morning that he would encounter difficult people.
- Central claim: Others can’t harm your moral character if you act according to nature (rationality).
“Today I am going to meet, quote, meddling, ungrateful, aggressive, treacherous, envious, unsociable people. End quote. ... None of them can actually harm me as long as I stick to living in accordance with nature.” – Marcus Aurelius (quoted by West) [15:40]
5. Stoic Metaphysics: The Divine Logos and Virtue
[19:11–26:00]
- Stoicism is rooted in the belief that the universe is governed by a rational divine order (Logos); a spark of this exists in all people.
- Human flourishing comes from living in accordance with nature (rationality), through the four key virtues: justice, courage, wisdom, and temperance.
“To act irrationally is to act immorally, whatever it is.” – Stephen West summarizing Stoic doctrine [24:52]
6. Virtues, Rationality, and Indifference
[26:01–29:50]
- Only human behavior is morally good or bad; all external events are “indifferent”—we can prefer some over others, but they lack moral weight.
- Failure to act courageously, for example, is a moral failure, not just an emotional one.
Notable Quotes from Aurelius (as cited by West):
- “Wipe out imagination, check desire, extinguish appetite, keep the ruling faculty in its own power.” (Meditations Book 9) [27:20]
- “The mind that is free from passions is a citadel.” (Meditations Book 8) [27:34]
- “He who acts unjustly acts unjustly to himself because he makes himself bad.” (Meditations Book 9) [28:15]
7. Memento Mori and Amor Fati: Living with Death and Fate
[29:51–39:30]
- Memento mori (“remember you will die”) encourages intentional living; legacy and fame fade, but virtue remains paramount.
- Don’t waste time on triviality, regrets, or fears—focus on virtuous action in the present.
- Amor fati (“love your fate”): Go beyond accepting your fate and learn to love it by using obstacles as fuel for virtue and self-improvement.
Memorable Aurelius Quote:
“You may leave this life at any moment, have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say or think.” (Meditations Book 2) [34:05]
“Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” (Meditations Book 6) [41:30]
8. Contrast with Buddhism and Modern Stoicism
[39:31–46:10]
- While Stoic present-mindedness superficially resembles Buddhism, the motivations and metaphysical underpinnings are different.
- Modern Stoicism often sheds the ancient metaphysics, focusing instead on practical ethical advice about managing destructive emotions.
- Modern Stoics like Massimo Pigliucci argue for updating Stoic ideas to fit what we know today—retaining useful techniques and bracketing the rest.
“The thing we need to take from the Stoics is not that you should never be acting irrationally, but more like, look, there are these extreme destructive emotional spirals that people can find themselves in sometimes. And people can use this philosophy the Stoics developed to help prevent those moments.” – Stephen West [44:38]
9. Why Is Stoicism Popular Today?
[46:11–52:10]
- Stoicism arose during periods of political instability, when individuals had little control over their external circumstances—a situation paralleled in modern times with rapid technological and social change.
- The focus on what you can control offers psychological safety and practical value in unpredictable eras.
10. Timeless Stoic Insights from Meditations
[52:11–01:01:55]
- Many pieces of advice from Meditations resonate regardless of metaphysics:
- Responding to Mistreatment:
“When someone does you wrong, you should immediately consider what judgment led them to do wrong. Once you see this, you will pity them and not be surprised or angry.” (Meditations Book 11) [54:28]
- Obstacles as Opportunities:
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” (Meditations Book 5) [56:02] “What stands in the way is the raw material for working with, and whatever may obstruct us can be turned into the furtherance of our design.” (Meditations Book 7) [57:09]
- Purpose and Role:
“Love the humble art you have learned and take rest in it, Pass through the remainder of your days as one who wholeheartedly entrusts all possessions to the gods.” (Meditations Book 4) [59:00]
- Human Collaboration:
“Neither can I be angry with my brother, for he and I were born to work together. Like a man's two hands or eyelids to obstruct each other is against nature's law.” (Meditations Book 6) [01:01:01]
- Responding to Mistreatment:
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- “Who cares about whether you were able to become a philosopher during the time you had? Fate apparently had other plans for your life.” – Stephen West paraphrasing Marcus Aurelius [09:38]
- “Don't live your life like you're going to be living for 10,000 years. That's never going to happen.” – Marcus Aurelius (paraphrased) [32:00]
- “The world is changing so fast… What I'm saying is that someone can criticize Stoicism… But what if limiting our scope to just the fraction of reality that we can control… is part of the magic of Stoicism that makes it so effective?” – Stephen West [49:50]
Key Timestamps
- 00:40 — Differentiating Stoicism, Stoic Ethics, Meditations
- 05:15 — Is Marcus Aurelius a philosopher?
- 14:48 — “Premeditation of evils” and facing difficult people
- 19:11 — Stoic metaphysics: Logos and virtue
- 29:51 — Memento mori and living in the present
- 39:31 — Stoicism vs. Buddhism
- 44:38 — Modern Stoicism and emotional health
- 46:11 — Why Stoicism feels relevant today
- 52:11 — Practical Stoic advice and timeless insights
Final Reflection and Preview
Stephen West ends by challenging listeners to consider whether Stoicism’s emphasis on rational order was a response to the unique pressures of Marcus Aurelius’ life as emperor. Is the continual striving for rational virtue a productive ideal or a restrictive way to experience life? These questions set up the next episode, which will cover Nietzsche and Schopenhauer’s critiques of Stoicism.
For newcomers and seasoned philosophers alike, this episode serves as both an accessible introduction and a sophisticated meditation on an ancient, living philosophy.