Cicero's De Finibus
Philosophical Approaches

This book opens up Cicero's work philosophically, taking us deeper into ancient ethical debates and into Cicero's own sceptical stance.

Julia Annas (Edited by), Gábor Betegh (Edited by)

9781107074835, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 December 2015

276 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2 cm, 0.54 kg

Cicero is increasingly recognised as a highly intelligent contributor to the ongoing ethical debates between Epicureans, Stoics and other schools. In this work on the fundamentals of ethics his learning as a scholar, his skill as a lawyer and his own passion for the truth result in a work which dazzles us in its presentation of the debates and at the same time exhibits the detachment of the ancient sceptic. Many kinds of reader will find themselves engaged with Cicero as well as with the ethical theories he presents. This collection takes the reader further into the debates, opening up new avenues for exploring this fascinating work.

Introduction Julia Annas
1. Cicero's sceptical methods: the example of the De Finibus Charles Brittain
2. Epicurean pleasure in Cicero's De Finibus James Warren
3. Cicero and Epicurean virtues (De Finibus 1-2) Pierre-Marie Morel
4. Epicurus on the importance of friendship in the good life (De Finibus 1.65-70
2.78-85) Dorothea Frede
5. Honor and the honorable: Cato's discourse in De Finibus 3 Margaret Graver
6. The voice of nature Brad Inwood
7. Sententia explosa: criticism of Stoic ethics in De Finibus 4 Anna Maria Ioppolo
8. Structure, standards and Stoic moral progress in De Finibus 4 Thomas Bénatouïl
9. Antiochus' theory of oikei?sis Christopher Gill.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]