Marcus Aurelius: The Dialogues - Hardcover

Stedall, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0856832367 ISBN 13: 9780856832369

Publisher: Shepheard-Walwyn, 2006

Synopsis

This new work draws from Marcus Aurelius—one of the last great pre-Christian voices of classical Western philosophy and spirituality—the essential threads of his thinking in the Meditations weaving them into a more contemporary and coherent form. Recasting a meeting that actually took place between Marcus and four other historical figures of classical antiquity, the book's situational stage allows Marcus to discuss and defend his beliefs with a clarity not found in the Meditations.

About this title

From the Publisher:

What is the meaning of life? Does it have a purpose, or are we here simply by accident? What is the true path to happiness? If there is a God, how is it that evil befalls the innocent? Is it possible to have a spiritual existence without believing in a divinity?

These are the questions on which men and women have pondered throughout the ages, from Socrates and Plato onwards. With the coming of Christianity, the Church provided orthodox answers founded on an unchallengeable belief in the divinity of Christ, combined with the promise of a resurrection and the threat of eternal damnation.

However, in recent times, these traditional foundations of the Christian faith have increasingly been challenged and this threatens to overturn their moral superstructure. In the absence of moral beliefs based on religion we risk creating a world where relativism, the rejection of any sense of absolute right or wrong, prevails. In such a society any moral position is entirely subjective and amoral behaviour is unchallengeable.

Faced with of the erosion of faith-based morality, perhaps we should turn to earlier, pre-Christian belief-sets that do not demand acceptance of a divinity. Eastern philosophies espouse a detachment from the material world, based partly on mysticism, and a rejection of analytical thought as a valid path to self-discovery. Classical Western philosophies, in contrast, believe that, in the words of Socrates, 'the considered life is the only one worth living'.

One of the last great pre-Christian exponents of classical Western philosophy was Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of the Roman Empire, AD161 to 180. Combining the duties of the palace and battlefield with his love and pursuit of philosophy, Marcus is famous for his Meditations, written whilst on his many field expeditions. However The Meditations are disconnected jottings, written for his own personal spiritual refreshment.

In The Dialogues Alan Stedall has taken the essential threads of Marcus's thought from The Meditations and woven them into a coherent and progressive discussion which might have occurred during a meeting that really did take place between Marcus and four other famous figures of classical antiquity.

The stage is set for Marcus to discuss and defend his beliefs with a clarity and coherence lacking in The Mediations, thereby also granting the reader a valuable insight into the essential character of the man behind the beliefs.

And so we are given clear and convincing answers to age-old questions about the meaning of life. We are offered a spirituality that does not demand the suspension of reason. Relativism is confronted and rational foundations for moral behaviour set out, free from divine threats and promises. This is an inspiring and refreshing book for today's bewildered world.

About the Author:

Alan Stedall is a former cartographic surveyor for the Ordnance Survey (the UK government mapping agency) who moved into the field of information technology in 1973. He has since held directorship positions at a number of companies.

About this edition

• Publisher: Shepheard-Walwyn
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0856832367
• ISBN 13: 9780856832369
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 112