Question

Write an essay with 1200 words. With apa reference. Will hand in by turnitin.

1. The exemplar of good life
Choose a person who, in your opinion, lived a good life
Give reasons to explain why you think she/ he lived a good life

Answer 1

The Exemplar of Good Life: Marcus Aurelius

In my opinion, the great Marcus Aurelius lived a good life. Apart from him, I believe that people like Elon Musk, J.K.Rowling and many others have lived a life just as good too. But my focus in this essay will be on Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher who wrote to himself in order to keep himself in check and for him to follow meditated reasoning to rule successfully. This man is known to be a philosophy king as his ways of self-disciple a more stoic philosophy proved to the roman empire that he is one of the good emperors that ever lived in history. Despite being in a position that consists of him having fame, power, riches and status as a king, Marcus Aurelius maintained his stoic philosophy to make them smarter and more sustainable choices to rule his empire well. He was guided as a young child by excellent teachers who taught him Greek, Politics, Philosophy and Stoicism was one that stayed with this emperor throughout his life. Marcus acquired the reputation of a philosopher king within his lifetime, and the title would remain after his death; both Dio and the biographer call him 'the philosopher'.Christians such as Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and Eusebius also gave him the title. The last-named went so far as to call him "more philanthropic and philosophic" than Antoninus and Hadrian, and set him against the persecuting emperors Domitian and Nero to make the contrast bolder."Alone of the emperors," wrote the historian Herodian, "he gave proof of his learning not by mere words or knowledge of philosophical doctrines but by his blameless character and temperate way of life".Iain King concludes that Marcus' legacy is tragic, because the emperor's "Stoic philosophy – which is about self-restraint, duty, and respect for others – was so abjectly abandoned by the imperial line he anointed on his death."

Eudaimonia is a Greek word translated as happiness and human flourishing or prosperity.It is a central concept in Aristotelian ethics and subsequent Hellenistic philosophy, along with the terms "aretē" (most often translated as "virtue" or "excellence") and "phronesis" (often translated as "practical or ethical wisdom"). The term refers to the highest human good, and so it is the aim of practical philosophy, including ethics and political philosophy, to consider (and also experience) what it really is, and how it can be achieved.Marcus Aurelius managed to reach eudaimonia to a certain extent in my opinion as he lived a virtuous life and it caused for him to be an intelligent emperor/governer who was able to bring sustainable prosperity to the large masses that he ruled and served. The good composed of all goods; an ability which suffices for living well; perfection in respect of virtue; resources sufficient for a living creature. Everyone wants to be eudaimon, and everyone agrees that being eudaimon is related to faring well and to an individual's well being. The really difficult question is to specify just what sort of activities enable one to live well. Marcus knew this and designed his days and made decisions based on these premises.In his book called Meditations, it seems that he is talking to himself and giving himself advice based on his learnings each day. His stoicism is firm and responsible in his writings. He is almost self-therapeuticizing himself in his daily life. Marcus showed resilience and strength in a very organized manner. Despite having all the money and power he maintained a virtuous discipline that chose to make the harder and right decisions which helped him as well as his entire roman empire. His methods prove that with self-discipline and a resilient mindset. He did and lived well.