Themes+and+Analysis

=Why did Cicero write it? =

Cicero was a very political men, and during the reign of Julius Caesar, he criticized all of Caesar's works and had the same mind set similar to those who believed Caesar was a dictator. He wrote this essay during his assassination as an attempt to exploit mankind and provide a solution to amend it. "Cicero’s time was a period of eclecticism in philosophy, especially so among the cultivated Romans, with whom philosophy was not indigenous, but a comparatively recent importation." ([|Peabody]) He primarily wrote this essay to emphasized on what society, as a whole, should and should not do; creation of regulations. Stoicism played a very important role in Cicero's essay, it provided many moral ethics, which told us many conceptions of moral development and the class "of duties essential to the maintenance of human society." (Cicero, //On Duties//) This essay was simply not only a letter to his son, but more of a "natural law" that must be follow, giving many examples and instruction on what we should do to achieve the pious goal.

**Why is it so easy for someone to follow a law instead of following their own? Do we already know what virtuous is or do we need someone to tell us?**

 =Analysis and Central Themes =

//"Animals of every species were endowed with the instinct that prompts them to take care of themselves...Man, on the other hand -- because he is possessed of reasons, by which he discerns consequences, understands the rise and progress of events, compares similar objects, and connects and associates the future with the present." (Cicero,// //On Duties)//

At the beginning of the essay, Cicero made a distinction between humans, who possessed a more dominant mind and willingness to live a virtuous life, where as animals "belongs rather to a savageness that spurns all human feelings." (Cicero, //On Duties//) Cicero also commented on a rationale that duty arises from the nature of man which set us apart from animals because "Nature has assigned a character endowed with great excellence and superiority over other humans". (Cicero, //On Duties//) Cicero continued with the idea and saying we as human beings are superior amongst many things, the initiative of virtuous actions are critical for human development. He implied that we are very fortunate, "for nature is far he more stable and consistent...choosing a mode of life". (Cicero, //On Duties//)

The Virtues:

__Justice__- Cicero separates it into justice and injustice-- "inflicting injury and failing to repel injury"
 * "Of injustice there are two kinds, -- one, that of those who inflict injury the other, that of those who do not, if they can, reopel ijury from those on whom it is inflicted."
 * "he who meditates harm to another apprehending that, if he refrains, he himself may suffer harm."
 * "Wars, then, are to be waged in order to render it possible to live in peace without injury; but, victory once gained, those are to be spared who have not been cruel and inhuman in war...

__Benevolence__- turning war into peace; making amends. Also includes generosity vs. greed.
 * "those who injure some that they may be generous to others, are as much in the wrong as if they directly converted what belongs to others into their own property."
 * "Human society and fellowship will be best maintained, of where there is the most intimate relation, the greatest amount of kindness be bestowed."
 * "greed of fame, also, as I have already said, must be shunned; for it deprives one of liberty, which every high-minded man will strive to the utmost to maintain."


 * Does Justice and Benevolence contradicts one another? Do you believe in order for //peace// to occur, does //war// have to be taken place?**

__Wisdom__- Cicero dubbed it "the chief of the virtues", it distinguish as mentally/physically superior amongst others
 * "knowledge have nevertheless not withdrawn from the obligation of contributing to the advantages and benefit of mankind."
 * "men who are devoted to the pursuit of learning and wisdom employ their intelligence and practical discretion chiefly for the benefit of mankind."
 * "higher obligation than the duty which is dependent on abstract study science."

__Temperance__- The idea of moderation, the process of eliminating or lessening extremes.
 * "avoid pride, fastidiousness, and arrogance; for it is the token of a frivolous mind to bear either prosperity or adversity otherwise than moderately..."
 * "Luxurious living, too, unbecoming at any period of life is most most shameful for old age...old age at once disgraces itself, and makes the excess of youth still more shameless."
 * "high standing in the community should be adorned by a house, not sought wholly from a house nor should the owner be honored by the house, but the house by the owner."