Marcus Aurelius: A Leader for Our Times?
The various Modern Stoicism movements are gaining followers all around the world. In this keynote Professor Angie Hobbs takes us back to Ancient Stoicism, particularly as expressed in the life and still best-selling “Meditations” of the Roman Emperor and practising Stoic Marcus Aurelius. She explores how even the most powerful person in the western world felt the need to turn his attention inward, to the ‘inner citadel’ of the rational mind, in order to meet the challenges of the war-torn and plague-afflicted times in which he lived. Giving a balanced appraisal of the strengths and potential challenges of Stoicism in both its ancient and modern forms, she looks at how Stoic texts and practices can be applied to contemporary leadership and help us all build the inner resilience and wisdom we need to navigate our own turbulent times.
