Author: McConnell, Sean
Title: Friends and Obligations: Cicero’s De Amicitia and a Problem in Roman Political Culture
Review/Collection: in Hahmann, Andree & Vazquez, Michael, Cicero as Philosopher - New Perspectives on His Philosophy and Its Legacy, De Gruyter, 2025, 412 p.
Place edition: Berlin Boston
Editor: De Gruyter
Year edition: 2025
Pages: 223-247
Keywords: Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy
Description: Sean McConnell (Chapter 10) also offers a new way to appreciate Cicero’s philosophical originality in his discussion of the nature and duties of friendship in De amicitia. This late work asks whether it is acceptable in certain circumstances to neglect or even violate the duties of the state and demands of morality on account of a friend. Cicero’s answer to this, and the nature of his reliance on Theophrastus’ own account, have long been subject to debate. According to McConnell, Cicero provides a virtue-centered corrective to existing Roman norms regarding the duties of amicitia. Here we see Cicero’s creative and dynamic engagement with Greek predecessors and Roman mores on full display [Hahmann & Vazquez 2025, 6].
Works:
Author initials: McConnell 2025
Title: Friends and Obligations: Cicero’s De Amicitia and a Problem in Roman Political Culture
Review/Collection: in Hahmann, Andree & Vazquez, Michael, Cicero as Philosopher - New Perspectives on His Philosophy and Its Legacy, De Gruyter, 2025, 412 p.
Place edition: Berlin Boston
Editor: De Gruyter
Year edition: 2025
Pages: 223-247
Keywords: Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy
Description: Sean McConnell (Chapter 10) also offers a new way to appreciate Cicero’s philosophical originality in his discussion of the nature and duties of friendship in De amicitia. This late work asks whether it is acceptable in certain circumstances to neglect or even violate the duties of the state and demands of morality on account of a friend. Cicero’s answer to this, and the nature of his reliance on Theophrastus’ own account, have long been subject to debate. According to McConnell, Cicero provides a virtue-centered corrective to existing Roman norms regarding the duties of amicitia. Here we see Cicero’s creative and dynamic engagement with Greek predecessors and Roman mores on full display [Hahmann & Vazquez 2025, 6].
Works:
Author initials: McConnell 2025
