On Living and Dying Well

by Cicero, Thomas Habinek (Translator), Thomas Habinek (Introduction), Thomas Habinek (Noted by)

Overview

In the first century BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero, orator, statesman, and defender of republican values, created these philosophical treatises on such diverse topics as friendship, religion, death, fate and scientific inquiry. A pragmatist at heart, Cicero's philosophies were frequently personal and ethical, drawn not from abstract reasoning but through careful observation of the world. The resulting works remind us of the importance of social ties, the questions of free will, and the justification of any creative endeavour.

This lively, lucid new translation from Thomas Habinek, editor of Classical Antiquity and the Classics and Contemporary Thought book series, makes Cicero's influential ideas accessible to every reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718194017
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	07/05/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	566,928
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Thomas Habinek is Professor of Classics at University of Southern California. His most recent books include The World of Roman Song: From Ritualized Speech to Social Order and Ancient Rhetoric and Oratory. He is an editor of the journal Classical Antiquity and editor of the book series Classics and Contemporary Thought.

Table of Contents

Chronology vii

Introduction: Why Does Cicero's Philosophy Matter? xi

Further Reading xxiii

Philosophy at Rome: On the Ultimate Good and Evil, or On Ends, 1.1-12 1

Against Fear of Death: Tusculan Disputations, Book 1 (Entire) 7

The Divinity of the Universe: On the Nature of the Gods 2.18-44 57

Wisdom Across the Ages: Tusculan Disputations 5.5-11 67

Philosophy and Oppression: On Divination 2.1-7 71

Friendship: Laelius, or On Friendship (Entire) 75

On Duties, or Life in Accordance with Human Nature: On Duties, Book 1 (Entire) 109

Death and Burial of Cicero: Selections from ancient authors 161

Cicero's Life, by Siobhán McElduff 169

Maps 180

Notes 183