Ancient Roman philosophy

Bronze statue of emperor Marcus Aurelius, who wrote his famous Meditations in 180 AD

Roman philosophy was the philosophical thought in ancient Rome, from the Republic of Rome to the Roman Empire.

Characteristics

Romans were better at law than at philosophy. They were the creators of the majority of law institutions. Their philosophy was greatly influenced by the Greek philosophy. Initially Roman philosophy was based on the epicureism (like in the De rerum natura of Lucretius) and the eclecticism of Cicero, but even on stoicism (like in Seneca' works). Later -with the spread of Christianity inside the Roman empire- the Christian philosophy of saint'Augustine was fundamental.

The Meditations of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius are still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.

Early Roman and Christian philosophy

See also: Christian philosophy

• School of the Sextii

Philosophers during Roman times

Plotinus

• Cicero (106 – 43 BCE)
• Lucretius (94 – 55 BCE)
• Seneca (4 BCE – 65 CE)
• Musonius Rufus (30 – 100 CE)
• Plutarch (45 – 120 CE)
• Epictetus (55 – 135 CE)
• Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 CE)
• Clement of Alexandria (150 – 215 CE)
• Alcinous (philosopher) (2nd century CE)
• Sextus Empiricus (3rd century CE)
• Alexander of Aphrodisias (3rd century CE)
• Ammonius Saccas (3rd century CE)
• Plotinus (205 – 270 CE)
• Porphyry (232 – 304 CE)
• Iamblichus (242 – 327 CE)
• Themistius (317 – 388 CE)
• Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430 CE)
• Proclus (411 – 485 CE)
• Damascius (462 – 540 CE)
• Boethius (472 – 524 CE)
• Simplicius of Cilicia (490 – 560 CE)
• John Philoponus (490 – 570 CE)

Bibliography

• I. Lana, La Scuola dei Sestii, Roma 1992
• A.Levi, Storia della filosofia romana, Firenze 1949

See also

• Ancient philosophy