The problem with presentism

Young Marcus: was he destined to become a wise ruler or a brutal colonialist? Altes Museum, Berlin, photo by the Author.

Consider Marcus Aurelius: was he a wise ruler whose actions were informed by Stoic philosophy, or a brutal colonialist enforcing imperial rule? I have had this discussion recently on Substack’s Notes as a follow up to an article I wrote in which, among other things, I suggested that modern Stoics should stop regarding James Stockdale a role model.

Stockdale was an American pilot...