After the death of Scipio in 129 BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero returned to the Stoic school in Athens and became its last undisputed scholar. With Panaetius, Stoicism became more eclectic. Cicero’s most famous work was his On Duties, which is the principal source used by him in his own work of the same name. In the author’s preface (§6), Cicero cites the example of Panaetius on divination (T 137 Alesse) and begs the Stoics’ leave to be a skeptic “on the other matters”.
Schofield studies De Divinatione as an example of Hellenistic philosophical argumentation and explores the ways Cicero translates this not merely into Latin. He claims that in the first two books Cicero is more dependent on Polybius than on Panaetius, and draws the inference that Cicero’s Republic is not philo-sophic and poetic.
Cicero’s De Divinatione is a philosophical work that examines the nature of divination and its significance in Roman society. The discussion of the Chaldean monstra in the second book, from sections 87 to 97, is derived from the Stoic Panaetius. The entire discussion is divided into two main parts.
Panaetius, the teacher of Posidonius, a pupil of Antipater, and even a pillar of the Stoic school, wandered off from the Stoics, though he had already licensed Panaetius’ skepticism on divination and thus implicitly that of others. Cicero the author is no longer a skeptic but a prominent statesman and orator in the tumultuous period of the late Roman republic.
Cicero learned the doctrines of Panaetius primarily through Posidonius of Rhodes, who personally taught him, as well as Pompey and other Roman philosophers.
What is the philosophy of Cicero?
Cicero placed significant emphasis on the primacy of natural laws over human and governmental laws. He asserted that leaders who defied these laws were regarded as tyrants. Cicero held the view that natural law represented the correct application of reason, was applicable to all, remained constant, and was eternal.
What is the purpose of Cicero’s on the republic?
Cicero’s De republica and De legibus are dialogues that exemplify the classical ideal of enhancing human existence through intellectual and moral endeavor. They define the republic as an association governed by law, a concept previously articulated by Plato.
Who are the big 3 stoic philosophers?
The modern Stoic tradition is grounded in the works of prominent figures such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, Zeno of Citium (the founder of the Stoic school), and other notable thinkers within the tradition, including Cleanthes, Chrysippus, and Musonius Rufus.
Did Cicero believe in divination?
De Divinatione is a supplement to Cicero’s De Natura Deorum, which is a dialogue between his brother Quintus and Cicero. Quintus supports the credibility of divination, following Stoic principles, while Cicero controversies it. The dialogue consists of two books: the first enumerates different types of divination and their reasons in favor, and the second book refutes Cicero’s brother’s arguments.
In the first book, Quintus argues that we cannot explain how or why certain things happen, as we know from experience and history that they do happen. He also offers accounts of various types of omens, dreams, portents, and divinations, including two remarkable dreams that occurred to Cicero and one to himself.
In the second book, Cicero presents arguments against auguries, auspices, astrology, lots, dreams, and every species of omens and prodigies. He argues that he dreamt of Marius during his banishment because he often thought about him, not because it was an omen. He also states that during sleep, the soul is in a relaxed state, and remnants of waking thoughts move freely within the soul.
The book concludes with a chapter on the evils of superstition and Cicero’s efforts to extirpate it. The thread is interwoven with curious and interesting stories.
What did Cicero think concerning God the divine mind of the universe?
Cicero believed that the divine mind designed and ordered the universe, with all things implanted with a function and end directed by their own nature, known as law. He believed that these laws are unchangeable and will not change, embracing all peoples at all times. By understanding the form and function of something, one can determine how it ought to act. Cicero argued that understanding humanity can help understand how humanity ought to act, as moral excellence is the completion and perfection of nature.
He believed that humanity stood between God and beasts, as nature made man erect and encouraged him to speak akin to him and his original home. The favored status of humanity is affirmed by our possession of the interrelated faculties of reason and speech.
How did Romans practice divination?
Sortes, or lots, were a common divination method among ancient Romans, used to draw lots to obtain knowledge of future events. These sortes were small tablets or counters made of wood or other materials, often thrown into a sitella or urn filled with water. The name “sortes” was given to anything used to determine chances and was also applied to any verbal response of an oracle. Various things were written on the lots according to circumstances, such as the names of the persons using them.
In later times, it was a favorite practice to write the verses of illustrious poets upon little tablets and draw them out of the urn like other lots, with the verses being supposed to be applicable to the person. This practice was prevalent in ancient Italian temples like Praeneste and Caere, where the will of the gods was consulted.
What are the three related elements of Cicero political philosophy?
Cicero argues that the best political system is a mixture of kingship, aristocracy, and democracy. The collective body of all citizens should have some input into political decision-making, but only some. However, it is fair to ask why decision-making power ultimately reside solely in that group, as the populus collectively owns the commonwealth. Deliberation will go better if the collectivity limits its sphere of influence and empowers certain individuals and small bodies.
Schofield attributes this line of argument to Cicero, but he also believes it would be unjust for the power of the populus to be total. They are entitled only to some political power because elite groups should also have their proper share. Distinctions in rank (dignitas) must be a factor in the allocation of political power. There must be sufficient authority in the deliberation of the leading men and sufficient liberty for the people.
Cicero’s formula for equitable balance could be regarded as a thinly veiled justification for aristocracy, but he credits him with a deep understanding of why the citizenry should have real power. Even if a king or a few “leading men” rule supremely well, they are “effectively their master”, and those ruled are in servitude.
Republicanism, which thrived in the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and now lives again, focuses on the characterization of those who have no say in politics as “in effect” slaves. The effect of slavery on people’s thoughts and actions makes it horrible, and it is crucial to consider the well-being of non-citizens who lack political power in their environment.
Was Cicero a stoic?
Cicero, an academic skeptic, challenged the Stoic epistemological assertion of absolute certainty regarding certain impressions. Notwithstanding his reservations, Cicero was sympathetic to Stoic ethics and frequently defended them, thereby becoming one of the most detailed sources on Stoic doctrine.
Who is the greatest Stoic of all time?
Marcus Aurelius, born nearly two millennia ago, is the most known Stoic leader in history. Born into a prominent family, he was a serious young man who enjoyed wrestling, boxing, and hunting. Around his teenage years, the reigning emperor, Hadrian, chose his successor, Antoninus, who was also childless and required to adopt Marcus. Marcus ruled for nearly two decades until 180, facing numerous challenges such as wars with the Parthian Empire, barbarian tribes, the rise of Christianity, and the plague.
Marcus held the most powerful position in the world at the time, allowing him to indulge and succumb to temptations. The adage that power in absolute absolute corrupts has been a cliche throughout history, but Marcus proved himself worthy of the position he was in. As the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors,’ the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power, guided by wisdom and virtue.
What made Cicero so great?
Cicero, a Roman lawyer and orator, chose a career in law to gain experience in making speeches, exposure, and popularity from high-profile cases. He built up a network of political connections, which was important in his time when political competition was based on loose, shifting networks of personal friendships and commitments.
Cicero was elected to each of the principal Roman offices, including quaestor, aedile, praetor, and consul, at the earliest age allowed to run for them. He held office as a member of the Roman Senate, which offered advice but was almost always followed. Cicero was proud of his successes, especially during his term as consul, where he exposed the conspiracy of Catiline, which aimed to take over the Roman state by force. Five conspirators were put to death without trial on Cicero’s orders, and he claimed that he singlehandedly saved the commonwealth.
The next few years were turbulent, and in 60 B. C. E., Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus took control of Roman politics. Recognizing his popularity and talents, they tried to get Cicero to join them, but he refused. Instead, they preferred to remain loyal to the Senate and the idea of the Republic. This left him open to attacks by his enemies, and in January 58 B. C. E., tribune Clodius proposed a law that stripped citizens of citizenship and forced them into exile.
Cicero was forbidden to live within 500 miles of Italy and his property was confiscated. This exile allowed him to study philosophy as an adult, and after about a year and a half of exile, the political conditions changed, and he returned to Rome, claiming that the Republic was restored with him. However, this claim was also treated by many as an absurd exaggeration.
What culture did the Romans adopt the religious practice of divination from?
The Etruscans exerted a profound impact on Roman religion, introducing divination by entrails and incorporating the Roman religious calendar into their own practices.
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