Cicero's Criticism
Introduction to Roman Literature and Thought
Assignment 5 – Cicero 2
1. Locate this text within Cicero’s whole literary product and the historical context of its production?
Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) is an essay divided into three books in which Cicero explains his notion of the best way to live, behave, and observe moral obligations. De Officiis was written in 44 BC which was also Cicero's last year alive. At this point in time Cicero was still active in politics and trying to stop the revolutionary forces from taking control of the Roman Republic. However, the republican system couldn’t be saved even after the assassination of Caesar. Cicero was also assassinated shortly thereafter. The essay was written in the form of a letter to …show more content…
Initially Cicero states that we must not commit wrongs against our fellow man and that wrongful actions are unnatural and inhuman. Cicero states that if you rob a useless person for your own advantage, it is unnatural action. This statement fits with his philosophical position. However, he goes on to state that if you are a good person and a benefit to society then you can rob a useless person if you need his belongings in order to survive. He is of the opinion that this is the only case where it is okay to wrong another. He states that in this case, robbing the ‘useless’ person would be benefiting the rest of mankind because the ‘good’ person is able to carry on living and contributing positively to society. He states that it’s important not to be conceited and overestimate your self-worth because if one is conceited and commits the act illustrated above then it is indeed a wrongful action. He also then goes on to state that robbing a inhuman tyrant like Phalaris is also okay because it is morally right to kill a man like …show more content…
However, Diogenes states that the seller must state if there’s anything wrong with his product as the law prescribes and that provided he doesn’t lie he can sell his corn in the most profitable way. Antipater states that one must work for the interests of mankind and therefore the purchaser should be aware of all the facts. Diogenes states that concealing and revealing are different and that while concealing is wrong, not revealing is okay. Antipater is stating that not revealing everything would be wrong and dishonest. However, Diogenes is stating that it is expedient without being wrong and that no one is forcing the purchaser to buy the corn. The debate is not
Assignment 5 – Cicero 2
1. Locate this text within Cicero’s whole literary product and the historical context of its production?
Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) is an essay divided into three books in which Cicero explains his notion of the best way to live, behave, and observe moral obligations. De Officiis was written in 44 BC which was also Cicero's last year alive. At this point in time Cicero was still active in politics and trying to stop the revolutionary forces from taking control of the Roman Republic. However, the republican system couldn’t be saved even after the assassination of Caesar. Cicero was also assassinated shortly thereafter. The essay was written in the form of a letter to …show more content…
Initially Cicero states that we must not commit wrongs against our fellow man and that wrongful actions are unnatural and inhuman. Cicero states that if you rob a useless person for your own advantage, it is unnatural action. This statement fits with his philosophical position. However, he goes on to state that if you are a good person and a benefit to society then you can rob a useless person if you need his belongings in order to survive. He is of the opinion that this is the only case where it is okay to wrong another. He states that in this case, robbing the ‘useless’ person would be benefiting the rest of mankind because the ‘good’ person is able to carry on living and contributing positively to society. He states that it’s important not to be conceited and overestimate your self-worth because if one is conceited and commits the act illustrated above then it is indeed a wrongful action. He also then goes on to state that robbing a inhuman tyrant like Phalaris is also okay because it is morally right to kill a man like …show more content…
However, Diogenes states that the seller must state if there’s anything wrong with his product as the law prescribes and that provided he doesn’t lie he can sell his corn in the most profitable way. Antipater states that one must work for the interests of mankind and therefore the purchaser should be aware of all the facts. Diogenes states that concealing and revealing are different and that while concealing is wrong, not revealing is okay. Antipater is stating that not revealing everything would be wrong and dishonest. However, Diogenes is stating that it is expedient without being wrong and that no one is forcing the purchaser to buy the corn. The debate is not