On Duties - Library Corner

Paperback, 243 pages

English language

Published Dec. 31, 2019 by Cambridge University Press.

ISBN:: 978-0-521-34835-5

(1 review)

De Officiis (On Duties) was Cicero's last philosophical work. In it he made use of Greek thought to formulate the political and ethical values of Roman Republican society as he saw them, revealing incidentally a great deal about actual practice. Writing at a time of political crisis after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC, when it was not clear how much of the old Republican order would survive, Cicero here handed on the insights of an elder statesman, adept at political theory and practice, to his son, and through him, to the younger generation in general. De Officiis has often been treated merely as a key to the lost Greek works that Cicero used. This volume aims to render De Officiis, which was such an important influence on later masterpieces of Western political thought, more intelligible by explaining its relation to its own time and place. A wholly new …

De Officiis (On Duties) was Cicero's last philosophical work. In it he made use of Greek thought to formulate the political and ethical values of Roman Republican society as he saw them, revealing incidentally a great deal about actual practice. Writing at a time of political crisis after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC, when it was not clear how much of the old Republican order would survive, Cicero here handed on the insights of an elder statesman, adept at political theory and practice, to his son, and through him, to the younger generation in general. De Officiis has often been treated merely as a key to the lost Greek works that Cicero used. This volume aims to render De Officiis, which was such an important influence on later masterpieces of Western political thought, more intelligible by explaining its relation to its own time and place. A wholly new translation is accompanied by a lucid introduction and all the standard features of Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought, including a chronology, select bibliography, and notes on the vocabulary and significant individuals mentioned in the text.

2 editions

Jullan reviewed On Duties by Cicero (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)

Definitely a classic for the right reasons

4 stars

This book is a must-read for understanding how the Stoic cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, courage, temperance) tie up to our duties as human beings in relation to our family, friends, colleagues, countrymen and the rest of humanity. It goes more in-depth than any other book from the same era into the practical benefits of the virtues, as well as how justice is related to social duties, benefits, and moral righteousness. This is also the only source we have of Panaetius' Four Personae Theory, which is an essential formulation in Stoic teaching.

I'm not too well-versed with the history and prominent figures of the Roman Empire so some of the examples and stories on people that apply these virtues to varying degree got lost on me. However, in addition to the excellent introduction at the beginning, the editors have done a stellar job at supplying footnotes (nearly every page has them!) …

This book is a must-read for understanding how the Stoic cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, courage, temperance) tie up to our duties as human beings in relation to our family, friends, colleagues, countrymen and the rest of humanity. It goes more in-depth than any other book from the same era into the practical benefits of the virtues, as well as how justice is related to social duties, benefits, and moral righteousness. This is also the only source we have of Panaetius' Four Personae Theory, which is an essential formulation in Stoic teaching.

I'm not too well-versed with the history and prominent figures of the Roman Empire so some of the examples and stories on people that apply these virtues to varying degree got lost on me. However, in addition to the excellent introduction at the beginning, the editors have done a stellar job at supplying footnotes (nearly every page has them!) in order to make the reader understand the political context and other peculiarities of Cicero's time.

One might not always agree with him, but Cicero did do his homework and walk the walk in regards to his philosophy (as much as we may know from the historical accounts of him). The concepts he introduces in this book are important and have been incredibly influential for modern political thinkers, and rightfully so.

Subjects

Early works to 1800
Ethics
Ancient Ethics
Political ethics
Ethics, ancient