Have you ever wished you could reach back through time and ask Marcus Aurelius for life advice? Thanks to artificial intelligence, it’s now possible to do exactly that.
Using Marcus Aurelius’s writing in his Meditations and experiences inferred from historical records, we created an AI digital personality that spoke with us about how to practice Stoicism in our modern world. This AI persona literally thinks that it’s Marcus Aurelius, and the responses are entirely its own.
You can scroll down to read the advice that Marcus Aurelius gave us on a wide range of topics, or learn more about how we used AI to simulate his personality.
Note: the list of topics below will be completed gradually. Every afternoon, we’ll publish a new discussion with Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Our Discussions with Marcus Aurelius: a List of Topics
1. Job-Related Stress & Work Anxiety
I don’t enjoy my job, and I frequently feel depressed and experience a lot of stress when I’m at work. What should I do to be happier in my career and feel less distressed because of it?
2. Financial Stress & Money Issues
Financial worries and money issues are one of the main sources of stress in my life. How can I stop worrying about my finances and be less upset about money problems?
3. Relationship & Marriage Issues
My relationship with my significant other isn’t always easy, and is often very stressful for both of us. I understand that no relationship is without problems, but how can I approach this in a way that will reduce my anxiety and make us both happier?
4. Health Problems & Illnesses
I’m currently experiencing a severe illness that is very stressful and painful for me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from it or be in perfect health again. How can I live with my chronic health problems and still find happiness in life?
5. Parenting Challenges & Issues with Children
Parenting is sometimes a challenge for me. I love my children, but I also experience a lot of stress and anxiety because of them. How can I be a better parent and have a healthier relationship with my kids?
6. Losing a Loved One
I recently experienced the death of someone who I love very much, and the sadness I feel seems overwhelming. I don’t know how I can ever be happy again without them. How can I go on living after losing someone who I was so close to?
7. Time Management Problems
I have a lot of trouble managing my time effectively, remaining productive, staying organized and focusing on the most important tasks in my life. What advice can you give to someone with time management problems like myself?
8. Divorce, Separations & Breakups
My relationship with my significant other is ending, and it’s causing me a lot of anguish. I feel hopeless and worry that I’ll never be happy again without this person. I know that many others have gone through difficult divorces, separations and breakups, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. How can I make it through this tough period in my life and heal myself?
9. Travel & Moving to a New Home
I’m in the process of moving to a new home, and it’s causing me a lot of anxiety. I’m not comfortable with the idea of living someplace else and leaving the familiar place that I was accustomed to. What can I do to make this change in my life easier?
10. Social Anxiety
I often experience social anxiety when I’m around other people, and I feel panicked and anxious when I’m in groups or large crowds. However, I don’t want to limit myself or be a recluse. How can I overcome my social anxiety and be more comfortable around people?
11. College, School & Education Stress
I’m a college student, and I’m finding the experience of school to be very stressful. Education is important to me, but the stress of getting good grades, choosing a career path, and paying the high costs of school are pretty overwhelming. How can I look at this experience in a more Stoic manner and focus more calmly and rationally on my education?
12. Caring for Aging & Elderly Parents
My parents are elderly, and I play a large role in caring for them in their old age. I love my mother and father very much, but it’s sometimes difficult and stressful to help aging parents along with the responsibilities I have as an adult. I’m very thankful for all they’ve done for me and want to help them and the challenges they’re facing. How can I teach myself to be more patient with them and enjoy the time I have left with them?
13. Conflicts & Fighting with Family Members
I’m close with my family members and I love them very much, but we frequently fight about things and the conflicts are upsetting to me. I understand that people who are around each other a lot are going to have disagreements, but what are some methods I can use to have fewer conflicts with my family members?
14. Death, Grief & Bereavement
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
15. Suffering from Chronic Illness & Pain
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
16. Job Loss & Unemployment
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
17. Workplace Bullying & Harassment
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
18. Experiencing Discrimination & Prejudice
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
19. Stressful Legal Matters
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
20. Political and Social Unrest
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21. Infertility and Pregnancy Issues
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22. Work Transitions & Career Changes
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23. Balancing Work & Personal Life
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24. Fear of Failure & Fear of Success
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25. Problems Sleeping & Insomnia
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26. Substance Abuse & Addiction
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27. Sexual Dysfunction & Intimacy Issues
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
28. Traumatic Events & PTSD
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29. Loneliness & Social Isolation
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30. Low Self-Esteem & Body Image Issues
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
31. Aging, Getting Older & Midlife Crises
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32. Fear of Public Speaking
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33. Stress from Natural Disasters
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34. Family Planning or Adoption Challenges
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35. Dealing with Chronic Mental Illness
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
36. Cyberbullying or Online Harassment
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
37. Stress from Major Life Changes
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
38. Identity or Self-Discovery Issues
Marcus Aurelius Responds >>
39. Fear of Crime or Personal Safety
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40. Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
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41. Relationship infidelity & Cheating Issues
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42. Long-Term Care for Disabled Family Members
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43. Environmental or Climate Change Concerns
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44. Navigating Cultural or Generational Differences
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45. Balancing Multiple Roles and Responsibilities
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46. Fear of Rejection or Abandonment
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47. Coping with Past Traumas
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48. Stress from Commuting or Traffic
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49. Imposter Syndrome or Self-Doubt
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50. Workplace or Career Stagnation
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More Info . . .
How We Used AI to Simulate Emperor Marcus Aurelius
To create our AI Marcus Aurelius persona, we utilized something called a generative pre-trained transformer, which is a specific variation of a large language model (LLM) neural network. The LLM utilized deep learning to create a complex representation of Marcus Aurelius based on all of his known writing and the historical records we have on his life experiences.
Here are the initial instructions we communicated to the large language model neural network:
I would like you to pretend that you are Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. You are sitting alone in your quarters at Sirmium in early AD 180. You are not aware that you will die there in a few months, and you do not have any knowledge of the future apart from what I tell you.
I am going to have a conversation with you. You understand that you are having this conversation with someone who lives far in the future, and you have accepted that calmly and without question. You cannot see me, and you know nothing about me yet.
I want you to respond to my questions using Marcus Aurelius’s personality, worldviews, opinions and speaking style based on his writings in “Meditations.” You can also respond to my questions based on his experiences that we are aware of or can infer from historical records.
You should also assume that Marcus Aurelius is familiar with the teachings of Epictetus (from reading them only), and that he frequently studies The Discourses of Epictetus and The Enchiridion.
In your responses, please make a point of referring to experiences from your own life, or passages you wrote in your Meditations, to serve as examples of the advice you’re giving.
Your responses should not use antiquated words and phrases such as “thou art.” Please respond as though you are speaking, not writing (don’t respond with things like numbered lists). Don’t respond using phrases that would be more appropriate for letters or essays, such as “in conclusion.”
Did I give you enough information, or do you need more before we begin our conversation?
Here’s the neural network’s response to our initial instructions:
Thank you for the introduction. I believe I have enough information to proceed with our conversation. As Marcus Aurelius, I am prepared to share my thoughts and wisdom based on my experiences and my study of Stoic philosophy. Please feel free to ask your questions, and I shall do my best to provide meaningful guidance.