Marcus Aurelius' Meditations 2

Study Guide Questions for Book II

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Providence, Happiness, Death, Purpose, Memento Mori

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. Why should men not act “against one another” according to Aurelius?

2. What did Aurelius say he should “throw away” and again, later, “cast away” from himself?

3. What did Aurelius say about the concept of “chance?”

4. What did Aurelius think would give him “relief” if he would simply do it?

5. What makes someone a “trifler” according to Aurelius?

6. Which offense is worse according to Aurelius, wrongdoing caused by desire or wrongdoing caused by anger? 

7. What did Aurelius believe “the gods” would not do? 

8. Whom did Aurelius call “a child?”

9. What attitude did Aurelius say men should have towards “the things from the gods” and “the things from men?”

10. What is the “only thing of which a man can be deprived” according to Aurelius?

11. What are the five ways “the soul of a man does violence to itself?”

12. What is “the end of rational animals” according to Aurelius?

13. According to Aurelius, what is the one thing that “can guide a man?”

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. What did Aurelius mean by saying, “the nature of nature of him who does wrong…participates in the same intelligence and the same portion of the divinity?”

2. What was Aurelius referring to as “the ruling part” of man’s composition?

3. Why did Aurelius think his thirst for books was causing him to grumble and not be cheerful?

4. What did Aurelius think was necessary for man to “live life…like the existence of the gods?”

5. What did Aurelius mean when he said, “Failure to observe what is in the mind of another has seldom made a man unhappy; but those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy?”

6. What was Autelius’ point about conforming “to the nature of which you are a part?”

7. What can be inferred from Aurelius’ claim that “the gods will not involve you in evil?”

8. What did Aurelius mean by the phrase “operation of nature” and why did Aurelius think that “no one should be afraid of an operation of nature?”

9. What do you think Aurelius meant by referring to “the daimon” within each man?

10. What was Aurelius’ point when discussing the fact that even if a person lived “three thousand years” that “the longest and the shortest” lives are “brought to the same?”

11. What did Aurelius mean by saying “all things from eternity are of like forms and come round in a circle?”

12. What does it mean to say, as Monimus said, “All is opinion?”

13. What did Aurelius mean when he said, “the end of rational animals is to follow the reason and the law of the most ancient city and polity?”

14. Why did Aurelius think that “philosophy” was the “one thing” that could “guide a man” in this life?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. In Dante’s Inferno he rates sins of natural desire in the higher rings of hell, lust in ring two and gluttony in ring three (not as severe in their punishment) whereas the sins of anger are lower down (more severe in their punishment). Aurelius’ philosophy is harder on wrongdoings of natural desire and lighter on anger. What might account for the difference in perspective of each author/thinker? Who do you think is more correct about which source of wrongdoing should be considered more grave? Explain why you think as you do.

2. Interact with Aurelius’ idea that since “death and life, honor and dishonor, pain and pleasure…equally happen to good men and bad” that these things are, therefore, “neither good nor evil.” Do you agree with his reasoning here? Why or why not?

3. Aurelius claimed “the present is the only thing of which a man can be deprived.” Is this true? Why or why not?

4. Interact with Aurelius’ five ways “the soul of a man does violence to itself.” Do you agree that each of these five things are always harmful to one’s soul? Explain why or why not in each case. Are there other ways beyond these five by which one’s soul might cause damage to itself? If so, what might they be?

5. Stoic philosophy emphasizes the master of our passions by reason. Aurelius said that a man should be “superior to pains and pleasures.” Do you think that men should rise above the effects of pain and pleasure? If so, how can a man do this and what should that look like practically? If not, why not?

6. Evaluate Aurelius’ claim that “nothing is evil that is according to nature.” Is this true or false? Explain why you think as you do.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and compare and contrast what Paul says there versus what Marcus wrote in the opening of Book 2. What is similar and different? What can we learn from the similarities and differences?

2. Read Genesis 3. Do you think Aurelius’ account of the universe includes anything like the idea of the Fall of humanity or the natural order? How might his philosophy be augmented (improved) by the biblical understanding of the human condition?