Συζῆν θεοῖς. Gândire și practică în teologia lui Marcus Aurelius
Συζῆν θεοῖς. Thought and praxis in Marcus Aurelius’ theology

Summary/Abstract: The present paper studies the question of theology within the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Assuming the Stoic curricula established by Chrysippus as a starting point, we identify theology as the final moment of the philosophical exercise and its role as fundament for all ethical and physical theories. Following the distinction emphasized by Pierre Hadot between philosophical discourse and the practice of philosophy, the paper further identifies the necessity of a practice corresponding to theoretical theology. Consequently, the two sections of the paper individually discuss the two features of theology, i.e. theory and practice. The unicity of God, alongside with fate and providence are the three notions creating the core of Stoic theology. Additionally, the first section also addresses the apparent tension between Stoic monotheism and the polytheism of the Meditations. Building on all these distinctive features, the second section identifies the chief coordinates of Marcus Aurelius’ piety, i.e. disciplina mentis and the practices of retreat into the self.

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