Philosophy in Cicero's speeches

Steel, C. (2021) Philosophy in Cicero's speeches. In: Atkins, J. W. and Bénatouïl, T. (eds.) The Cambridge Companion to Cicero's Philosophy. Cambridge University Press, pp. 59-70. ISBN 9781108241649 (doi: 10.1017/9781108241649.006)

Abstract

The most obvious use of philosophy within Cicero’s speeches is as a source of invective: Stoicism against Cato in the Pro Murena, Epicureanism in In Pisonem. However, even here Cicero is careful to show that philosophical adherence itself is not a fault; but only faulty adherence. Elsewhere in the speeches, Cicero draws on Stoic theories of society in constructing his views of the relationship between the res publica, crisis, and tyranny and in articulating the justification for tyrant killing: this line of argument can be traced from the Catilinarians through Pro Milone down to the Philippics.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Steel, Professor Catherine
• Authors: Steel, C.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General); D History General and Old World > DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World; P Language and Literature > PA Classical philology
• College/School: College of Arts > School of Humanities > Classics
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISBN: 9781108241649
• Published Online: 08 December 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2021
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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