Cicero: The Philosophy of a Roman Sceptic

269 Pages·2015·1.63 MB·English

by  Raphael Woolf

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CICERO
Cicero’s philosophical works introduced Latin audiences to the ideas of the Stoics,
Epicureans and other schools and figures of the post-Aristotelian period, thus
influencing the transmission of those ideas through later history. While Cicero’s
value as documentary evidence for the Hellenistic schools is unquestioned, Cicero:
The Philosophy of a Roman Sceptic explores his writings as works of philosophy that
do more than simply synthesize the thought of others, but instead offer a unique
viewpoint of their own. In this volume Raphael Woolf describes and evaluates
Cicero’sphilosophicalachievements,payingparticularattentiontohisrelationtothose
philosophershedrawsuponinhisworks, hisRomanizingofGreekphilosophy, and
his own sceptical and dialectical outlook. The volume aims, using the best tools of
philosophical, philological and historical analysis, to do Cicero justice as a distinctive
philosophical voice.
SituatingCicero’sworkinitshistorical and political context, thisvolume provides
a detailed analysis of the thought of one of the finest orators and writers of the
Roman period. Written in an accessible and engaging style, Cicero: The Philosophy
of a Roman Sceptic is a key resource for those interested in Cicero’s role in shaping
Classical philosophy.
Raphael Woolf is Reader in Philosophy at King’s College London. His work
focusesonancientphilosophy,andhehaspublishedonPlato,AristotleandHellenistic
philosophy.
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PHILOSOPHY IN THE ROMAN WORLD
Forthcoming:
Seneca
R. Scott Smith
Lucretius
Gordon Campbell
Galen
Teun Tieleman
Marcus Aurelius
John Sellars
Plutarch
Eleni Kechagia-Ovseiko
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CICERO
The philosophy of a Roman sceptic
Raphael Woolf
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Firstpublished2015
byRoutledge
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pagescm
1.Cicero,MarcusTullius.I.Title.
B553.W662015
186’.2--dc23
2014034418
ISBN:978-1-84465-840-4(hbk)
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements vi
Some notable dates vii
1 Introduction: Cicero and philosophy 1
2 Scepticism and certainty 10
3 God, fate and freedom 34
4 The best form of government 93
5 The good life in theory and in practice 125
6 The role of the emotions 201
Suggestions for further reading 248
Index 254
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My interest inCicero as aphilosopher was first seriously awakened when I had the
good fortune, some fifteen years ago, to be invited to collaborate with Julia Annas
on a translation of Cicero’s ethical treatise De Finibus, during which I benefited
greatly from Julia’s knowledge and insight. That collaboration was made possible
through the good offices of M. M. McCabe, who has remained a constant source
of encouragement and advice. A number of scholars have helped me think about
Cicero over the years. I would like here to thank in particular Will Altman,
Charles Brittain, Christopher Gill, Margaret Graver, Brad Inwood, Jonathan
Powell, Andrea Sangiovanni, Malcolm Schofield, David Sedley and Gisela Striker.
I’m grateful to an anonymous reader of an earlier version of the manuscript, who
made several helpful suggestions for improvement. My thanks to Steven Gerrard,
who commissioned the book,and to Matthew Gibbonsand his team at Routledge
for shepherding it through its final stages. Throughout the process of writing, Jane
and mum have been unstinting sources of love and support. Finally, this book is
dedicated to the memory of my father, Murray Woolf, who would have been
proud; and to the memory of Ian Crystal, fellow ancient philosopher and friend,
who would have been amused.
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SOME NOTABLE DATES (ALL BC)
106 Cicero born on 3 January.
63 Cicero consul with Marcus Antonius. Exposes Catiline’s conspiracy. Has
conspirators executed without trial.
60 Caesar, Pompey and Crassus form the First Triumvirate.
58 Cicero exiled.
57 Cicero recalled from exile. Returns to Rome in September.
56 First Triumvirate renewed.
53 Death of Crassus.
49 Caesar crosses the Rubicon, becomes dictator.
48 Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus in August. Pompey is killed in Egyptin
September.
45 Cicero’s daughter Tullia dies, following childbirth, in February.
44 Caesar named dictator for life. Assassinated on 15 March.
43 Antony, Octavian and Lepidus form the Second Triumvirate. Cicero is
killed on 7 December.
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1
INTRODUCTION
Cicero and philosophy
We probably know more about the life of Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC),
renowned statesman and orator of ancient Rome, than about any other figure in
antiquity, largely because of the survival of many of his own speeches and other
writings, including a treasuretrove of letters. Lessknown,outside relativelyspecialist
circles,ishisdevotiontothestudyandpracticeofphilosophy.Buthispassionforthe
subjectissomethingheacquiredatayoungage,anditstayedwithhimthroughout
his political career, serving as a source of guidance and at times solace during the
upheavals that he lived through. Moreover, it is a passion reflected in his author-
ship ofanumberof philosophicalworks, most of which have survived,thoughnot
all of them intact.
To some extent it is understandable that his philosophical efforts have been
overshadowed, atleastfromthepointofview ofhispublicpersona,byhispolitical
profile. But any fair-minded assessment of Cicero’s accomplishments must give
credit to his remarkable contributions in both arenas. In fact, when it comes to his
philosophical output Cicero is in a way the victim of his own success. Part of his
ambition in writing philosophical works was to make available to a Latin-speaking
audience the main ideas of the philosophical movements that were current in his
own day, including but not confined to prominent schools of thought such as the
StoicsandtheEpicureans.TheleadingfiguresoftheseschoolswroteinGreek,and
by communicating their theories in Latin Cicero hoped to create wider interest in
philosophy among a Roman readership.
GiventheextentofRome’sdominanceeveninCicero’sownday(letaloneinthe
centuries-long imperial era to come after his death), he had reason to believe that
his pioneering project to present philosophy in Latin would take hold. But the
importance of what he was doing eventually outstripped what even he could
probably have predicted. Due to the whims of history, virtually none of the works
of philosophy written by the founders of, for example, Stoicism and Epicureanism