Cicero was a Roman writer, orator, philosopher, and politician who was praised until the 19th century when it was revealed he stole from Greek philosophers. He used his writing and philosophy to achieve political goals, and his skillful writing helped him attain a high position in the Empire. Cicero’s work was valued by the Roman Catholic Church, and he was considered a pagan “Christian” in his philosophy. He was elected to different offices in the judicial system, which made him eligible to sit in the Roman senate. Cicero exposed a conspiracy to overthrow the government and ordered the deaths of the conspirators without trial. His exile lasted just under two years and represents a time of significant philosophical writing. Cicero’s preserved writing is extensive, and he developed a whole theory of how rhetoric should be taught. His philosophical writings focus on morality and are why he was so loved by later Catholic philosophers.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was a Roman writer, orator, philosopher and politician. His work was carefully studied and praised until scholarship in the 19th century revealed that Cicero deftly stole from the earlier work of Greek philosophers and rhetoricians. Augustine studied him closely, and it is mainly thanks to this scholarship that the writer continued to be popular. He was considered by many to be a pagan “Christian” in his philosophy, so the Roman Catholic Church placed a high value on Cicero’s work.
One must read Cicero with skepticism, as he was an ambitious politician, and his talented writing represents attempts to achieve his political goals. His skillful writing and philosophy were a means to a political end, which was his placement in a high position in the Empire. Although Cicero was born into wealth, he was not of a high enough class to enter and succeed in Roman politics. Like many American politicians he studied and practiced law as a way to attain power in Rome.
Because Cicero was elected to different offices in the judicial system, he became eligible to sit in the Roman senate. Unlike the Greek senate and the judicial process, the Roman senate played an advisory role. Rome was not a democracy, but more closely an oligarchy, where the people are governed by the few in political power, and often these few have inherited power by birthright.
As consul, the most powerful elected office, Cicero exposed a conspiracy by Caitline, to overthrow the government. He then ordered the deaths of Caitline and her conspirators without trial, which differs markedly from his earlier writings in which he pleads for due process. His decision would later haunt him. He refused to join Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey in taking control of the government. Crassus retaliated by passing a retroactive law, exiling those in Rome who had executed Romans without trial. Cicero lost not only his possessions, but also his status as a citizen.
His exile lasted just under two years and represents a time of significant philosophical writing. Back in Rome, he witnesses the fracturing of relations between Caesar and Pompey after the death of Crassus. Cicero felt that either ruler would be of enormous harm, destroying the oligarchy and instead creating a monarchy with a supreme ruler.
After Caesar gained power, Cicero was pardoned for his mild support of Pompey. However, he was still unable to return to politics. Cicero witnessed but took no part in the assassination of Caesar three years later, in 44 BC His role then became more tainted with political gain. He purposely pitted Marc Anthony and Octavian against each other to destabilize the Empire. He felt Octavian should become emperor since he was younger and could easily be influenced by the Senate to restore the Republic.
When Octavian made peace with Marc Anthony, Marc Anthony ordered the deaths of not only Cicero but his close male relatives as well. Cicero attempted to flee Italy but was unsuccessful and was assassinated. His brother and nephew were also killed, but his son escaped and would later hold the position of consul as his father had.
Cicero’s preserved writing is extensive, although some important pieces are thought to have been lost. He developed a whole theory of how rhetoric should be taught, largely derived from Aristotle. His philosophical writings focus on morality and are why he was so loved by later Catholic philosophers. Many Romans had come to believe that if gods existed, they were impersonal beings who cared little for humans. Cicero had more esteem for the gods and enjoined others to act morally, much like later Christian behavior.
For students of rhetoric, his work, especially his works, “On the Invention,” “On the Orator,” and “The Orator,” are worth studying. For philosophers, his works, “On the Nature of the Gods” and “On Divination”, are of particular interest. His other works are mainly political in nature and may be of interest to those studying politics or rhetoric, as they are classic examples of double speeches, with fine noble intentions expressed which were certainly not realized by the way Cicero lived.
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