The Blonde Beast in Chains: How Stoicism Tamed an Emperor
Objective "This article explores Friedrich Nietzsche’s concepts of master and slave morality, their roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and their relationship to the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy. It will then argue that Stoicism operates within the framework of slave morality, drawing parallels with Christianity. Finally, it will examine how Marcus Aurelius, as both emperor and Stoic, represents a paradox: a man embodying both the noble ‘blonde beast’ and the ascetic self-denial of the plebeian.” Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche distinguished between two fundamental moral perspectives: master and slave morality. The first, associated with strength and nobility, originates from rulers who define virtue in terms of power, vitality, and self-affirmation. The second, emerging from the oppressed, is a reaction against the dominance of the strong, elevating humility, obedience, and self-denial. This inversion of values, deeply embedded in the Judeo-Christian tradition, ...