The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by Cicero

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29247

Title

The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by Cicero

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Marcus Tullius Cicero's philosophical treatises explore Stoic and Epicurean debates on virtue, pain, death, and the good life. This collection includes translations of *The Academic Questions*, *De Finibus*, and *Tusculan Disputations*, alongside a sketch of Greek philosophers like Pythagoras and Epicurus.

Summary up to 500 words

This volume presents Marcus Tullius Cicero's rigorous examination of ethical philosophy through three major works: *The Academic Questions*, *De Finibus* (On Ends), and the *Tusculan Disputations*. In the former two, Cicero engages in dialectical inquiries regarding the nature of the highest good, contrasting Stoic rationalism with Epicurean hedonism. He offers a vivid critique of Epicurus, questioning his consistency when facing pain versus his theoretical claims about pleasure. Cicero argues that virtue alone suffices for happiness and that recalling past goods can console the mind against present suffering. The *Tusculan Disputations* systematically addresses human fears: death, pain, grief, and mental disturbances. Cicero contends that these perturbations stem from false judgments about what is good or evil. He illustrates his points with historical examples, such as Epaminondas dying in victory and Leonidas at Thermopylae, to demonstrate that a virtuous spirit can transcend physical agony. The text features a specific critique of Epicurus's letter written while he was suffering intensely; Cicero highlights the inconsistency between Epicurus's claim that death is nothing to us and his detailed instructions for posthumous banquets and birthday celebrations. Furthermore, the work includes biographical sketches of pre-Socratic thinkers like Thales, Anaximander, Pythagoras, and Heraclitus. These sections detail their cosmological theories and ethical practices, ranging from Thales's derivation of all things from water to Pythagoras's mathematical harmonies and belief in the transmigration of souls. Cicero aims to liberate the soul from earthly anxieties, asserting that wisdom provides a stable foundation for a happy life regardless of external circumstances. Through these dialogues, he seeks to show that the wise man remains happy even in pain, relying on reason and virtue rather than bodily pleasure or fear.

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Categories

• Classics
• Philosophy