10/19/2005

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

Cicero deduced the conclusion that every individual must do everything in his power to develop the higher faculties that distinguish him from animals . . . But it was also clear to him that this human responsibility implies a tremendous social and communal obligation. (M. Grant, On the Good Life, 9)

On The Orator
Qualities and Training of a Statesman
Background
Date of Composition: 5552 B.C., following the Luca Conference and reaffirmation of the First Triumvirate between Caesar and his allies Dramatic Date: 91 B.C., set in Antonius Tusculan villa

Focus: The training of the Orator (statesman) Major issue: Rhetoric vs. Philosophy
Platothe problem of the amorality of rhetoric; the orator must know the truth first. Isocrateshad developed the teaching of oratory as a moral and political training system.

Interlocutors
Sulpiciusphilosophy unnecessary: Platos political views were divorced from reality and Socrates failed in his own trial! (On the Good Life, 310-312, 316,
and 319-321)

Antoniusrhetoric needs only a little philosophy (On the Good Life, 264) Crassusrhetoric and philosophy important; unity of the arts; the importance of a liberal education (On the Good Life, 246-47, 335)

10/19/2005

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

10/19/2005

Dream of Scipio from On the Republic

A Classical Cosmologythe Universe and Mans Place in It
Background Part of On the Republic (6b) about the ideal state Date of Composition: 5451B.C., while Caesar and the triumvirate were dominating politics Dramatic Date: 129 B.C., set in the garden of Scipios townhouse Interlocutor: Scipio Aemilianus, the conqueror of Carthage, relating a dream Focus: The rewards awaiting the statesman Ciceros cosmology Ideas: Pythagorean reincarnation, Aristotelian prime mover, Epicurean atomist approach Music of the Spheres (On the Good Life, 346-350)
Geocentric universe This view of the universe becomes very important in the Classical Tradition

Important points and passages Role of the dictator or rector of the state (On the Good Life, 343-346)
Scipio is a model for the ideal statesman who should strive to benefit and restore the state Cf. harmony of the orders (concordia ordinum) in the Catilinarian orations duty requires the statesman to delay eternal reward and serve on earth

understand that you are a god . . . (On the Good Life, 352-353)

10/19/2005

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

Discussions at Tusculum
Philosophy on Ethics and Emotions
Background
Date of Composition: JuneAugust 45 B.C.
daughter Tullia had died earlier in the year

Dramatic Date: contemporary

Focus: the issue of moral goodness and the comfort afforded by philosophy

Interlocutors
M (Marcus? magister?) A (amicus? adulescens?)

Divisions of Philosophy (On the Good Life, 88-89)

Physics: knowledge of the universe Ethics: things to aim for and things to avoid Dialectic: assessment of logical consequences and incompatibilities

Problems of emotions, ethics, immortality

Book 1Death is not to be feared; Book 2pain is endurable; Book 3sorrow can be alleviated; Book 4dealing with other disturbances of the mind Book 5Moral goodness sufficient to make one happy
10/19/2005 22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft 4

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

10/19/2005

Philosophic Approaches in Discussions at Tusculum 5

Emotions
Stoicemotions to be condemned Peripateticemotions are natural and some are unavoidable Epicureanpain the greatest of evils
example of being tortured on the rack (On the Good Life, 91-92)

Ethics
Stoicvirtue the sole good
The question of advantageous or preferable goods (On the Good Life, 76-79): moral goodness is the only good

Academic and especially Peripateticvirtue preponderant over other goods Epicureanpleasure the highest good

Immortality
Platonichigher, eternal, life of the soul Stoiclimited survival of individuality Epicureansoul destroyed (dissolved into constituent atoms)

10/19/2005

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

On Duties
A Treatise on Practicality
Background
Date of Composition: November 44, after Cicero had returned to politics after the murder of Caesar
He had just given a railing speech against Caesars successor, Mark Antony

Form: Framed as a letter of advice to Ciceros son, Marcus

De Officiisa treatise on practical mortal conduct

Duties, better obligations, comes from the Latin officia
Ciceros translation of the Stoic Greek term katheka, or right or appropriate actions

Conceived as a moral code for the senatorial aristocracy just liberated from Caesars dictatorship
a theoretical treatment of the obligations which a citizen should render to the Commonwealth, that is, a manual of civic virtue (R. Syme, Roman Revolution, 145)

Structure and topics (see On the Good Life, 124)

Book 1: Obligations arising from moral right
Book 2: Obligations arising from advantage or expediency Expediency: how external advantages of life (means, resources, and influence) affect the performance of obligations (On the Good Life, 127)

Book 3: What is to be done when right and advantage clash

10/19/2005 22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft 6

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft

10/19/2005

On Duties 2
Balancing moral imperatives with practical obligations
How are the rights of the individual reconcilable with the needs of society? (One the Good Life, 27 and 119)
Ciceros review of the development and purpose of living in cities (On the Good Life, 127; cf. Aristotle)

Duty, expediency, and the statesman (On the Good Life, 128)
Man has the power to be the greatest agent both of benefit and of harm towards his fellow men . . . To gain the goodwill of our fellow human beings, to convert them to a state of active readiness to further our own interests, is a task worthy of the wisdom and excellence of a superman. Three qualities of moral goodness (On the Good Life, 128)
Wisdomdistinguish the true from the false Temperancerestrain passions and appetites Justicebehave considerately and understandingly towards other people

Gaining influence and an effective reputation

The reason why these disasters have descended upon us is because we chose to make ourselves feared rather than liked and loved. (On the Good
Life, 135)

Obtaining a lofty reputation (On the Good Life, 136-139)

Winning goodwillperforming a service Winning confidencebe considered just and intelligent Be worthy of high officebe free from tain of disrepute and vice, rise above outward circumstances
10/19/2005 22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft 7

22. Cicero on Philosophy and Statecraft