Notes on the three topoi in “The Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius

Abstract

This article aims to present the three stoic Topoi, based on the reflections that Pierre Hadot proposed about the work of the emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. As a theoretical framework, we adopted the contributions of Hadot (2009; 2014), Almeida (2011), Aurélio (2002), among others. The methodology used will be bibliographic and documentary research, combined with content analysis. Our investigations show that the stoic school, by placing its area of ​​action and reflection in Topoi, aims to achieve the integrity of man and his relationships with universal nature, with other human beings, and, finally, with his own conscience and the rules adopted for the formulation of judgments. In this way, the philosopher emperor exposes his “Meditations” involving both his own political context, as well as a philosophical one, showing that his adherence to stoicism became his own way of living.