Subversive Virtue

Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World, Volume 1, examines the complex relationship between self-discipline and power in ancient Rome. James A Francis analyzes how pagan asceticism existed before the rise of Christian traditions, focusing on the second century. This scholarly work in the categories of ethics and ancient civilization explores how Roman society reacted to those who rejected traditional norms of wealth, marriage, and property.

The text highlights the tension between the Stoic moderation of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the more ostentatious practices of deviant ascetics. Through an analysis of Lucian, Philostratus, and Celsus, the author demonstrates how the Roman state managed these figures to maintain social order. By treating pagan asceticism as a distinct phenomenon, this volume provides the necessary historical context to understand the broader development of asceticism throughout Late Antiquity.