Aurelius and McLuhan: A Study in Ancient and Modern Communication Theories

Abstract

Marcus Aurelius\u27 Meditations, written near the end of the Roman emperor\u27s life around 170-180 AD, is considered the first ever private, written journal. His written meditations were the first directed toward his own mind rather than an audience in order to encourage proper Stoic habits. The 20th century philosopher of communication theory Marshall McLuhan posited that the medium is the message, that is, the method of communication itself can introduce a change of scale, pace or pattern into human affairs. However, McLuhan\u27s theory proves timeless when analyzed with the Meditations, as Aurelius is aware of the way in which his musings propel a change in his thoughts from off of the page and into his active life. Furthermore, Aurelius\u27 understanding of the command which the written word yields can be seen in contemporary society with the advent of social media and the methods in which private discourse is carried out in a public sphere