The Cambridge Companion to Cicero's Philosophy

Introduces Cicero's philosophy and demonstrates its relevance to many fundamental epistemological, ethical, and political issues.

Jed W. Atkins (Edited by), Thomas Bénatouïl (Edited by)

9781108404037, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 December 2021

356 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

'Those with an interest in any aspect of Cicero's life and work, from historians studying his letters, philosophers studying his treatises, or classicists studying his style, would benefit from this volume. By understanding how his philosophy is integrated into the various aspects of his work and life, our picture of both Cicero and his philosophy improves, and we gain a greater appreciation for and understanding of his influence.' Anthony Hejduk, Sehepunkte

Cicero is one of the most important and influential thinkers within the history of Western philosophy. For the last thirty years, his reputation as a philosopher has once again been on the rise after close to a century of very low esteem. This Companion introduces readers to 'Cicero the philosopher' and to his philosophical writings. It provides a handy port-of-call for those interested in Cicero's original contributions to a wide variety of topics such as epistemology, the emotions, determinism and responsibility, cosmopolitanism, republicanism, philosophical translation, dialogue, aging, friendship, and more. The international, interdisciplinary team of scholars represented in this volume highlights the historical significance and contemporary relevance of Cicero's writings, and suggests pathways for future scholarship on Cicero's philosophy as we move through the twenty-first century.

Introduction Thomas Bénatouïl
1. Cicero's philosophical writing in its intellectual context Claudia Moatti
2. The Ciceronian dialogue Charles Brittain and Peter Osorio
3. Philosophy in Cicero's letters Sophie Aubert-Baillot
4. Philosophy in Cicero's speeches Catherine Steel
5. Cicero and the creation of a Latin philosophical vocabulary Carlos Lévy
6. Cicero and Plato Malcolm Schofield
7. Cicero's academic skepticism Tobias Reinhardt
8. Cosmology, theology, and religion Clara Auvray-Assayas
9. Determinism, fate, and responsibility Elisabeth Begemann
10. Cicero on the emotions and the soul Sean McConnell
11. Ethical theory and the good life Raphael Woolf
12. Nature and social ethics Gretchen Reydams-Schils
13. Philosophy, rhetoric, and politics Gary Remer
14. Cicero's republicanism Walter Nicgorski
15. Empire, just wars, and cosmopolitanism Jed W. Atkins
16. Cicero and Augustine Anne-Isabelle Bouton-Touboulic
17. Cicero and eighteenth-century political thought Daniel J. Kapust
18. Cicero and twenty-first century political philosophy Martha C. Nussbaum.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]