Author: Bragova, Arina Mikhailovna
Title: The concept of amicitia in the works of Cicero – Понятие amicitia в сочинениях Цицерона
Review/Collection: Problems of History, Philology and Culture. Vyp. 1,
Year edition: 2016
Pages: 103-110
Keywords: Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy, Politique - Politica - Politics
Description: The article is devoted to the analysis of Cicero’s concept “friendship” (amicitia). The author of the article defines the degree of influence that the Greek philosophers had on Cicero’s interpretation of friendship. The article also deals with the question of originality of Cicero’s reasoning about friendship as well as the political connotation of the term amicitia. Cicero characterizes the true and perfect friendship based not on profit but on agreement in affairs, benevolence and affection. Friendship originates from nature and emerges due to goodwill. It is important both in happiness and in misfortunes. Friendship is an integral part of a decent and virtuous life. Friendship is stronger than family ties. Only honest, virtuous, wise, generous, self-confident, reliable and sociable people are worthy of friendship. Cicero gives examples of such people among the Roman aristocrats (Cato, Tiberius Gracchus the Older, Publius Scipio the African and others). People inclined to excessive delight and pleasures as well as flatterers, scoundrels and betrayers are not worthy of friendship. Cicero’s interpretation of friendship is undoubtedly influenced by the Greek philosophers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, Polybius, Peripatetics and others). Nevertheless, he offers original ideas. For example, he disagrees with Aristotle about people who are inclined to friendship: Aristotle considers weak people to seek protection and help in friendship, whereas Cicero’s true friendship is not based on profit. There is also a difference in their opinions concerning the kinds of friendship: Aristotle recognizes three kinds of friendship (based on a virtue, utility or pleasure), while Cicero acknowledges only friendship based on a virtue. Besides, Cicero’s thoughts about friendship are imbued with the Roman spirit: he gives many examples about Roman citizens and relies on his wide political experience. It must be stated that Cicero’s term ‘friendship’ has a political connotation: he believes that requirements of friendship should not contradict the state’s interests, people should not betray the motherland for the sake of a friend. To sum up, Cicero’s term ‘friendship’ is a combination of the ancient Greek ideas about friendship, the so called pure ethics, and the Roman notions of amicitia, which have a political connotation [Author]. Text in russian [Russian bibliography]
Works:
Link: https://ancientrome.ru/publik/article.htm?a=1511109134
Author initials: Bragova 2016a
Title: The concept of amicitia in the works of Cicero – Понятие amicitia в сочинениях Цицерона
Review/Collection: Problems of History, Philology and Culture. Vyp. 1,
Year edition: 2016
Pages: 103-110
Keywords: Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy, Politique - Politica - Politics
Description: The article is devoted to the analysis of Cicero’s concept “friendship” (amicitia). The author of the article defines the degree of influence that the Greek philosophers had on Cicero’s interpretation of friendship. The article also deals with the question of originality of Cicero’s reasoning about friendship as well as the political connotation of the term amicitia. Cicero characterizes the true and perfect friendship based not on profit but on agreement in affairs, benevolence and affection. Friendship originates from nature and emerges due to goodwill. It is important both in happiness and in misfortunes. Friendship is an integral part of a decent and virtuous life. Friendship is stronger than family ties. Only honest, virtuous, wise, generous, self-confident, reliable and sociable people are worthy of friendship. Cicero gives examples of such people among the Roman aristocrats (Cato, Tiberius Gracchus the Older, Publius Scipio the African and others). People inclined to excessive delight and pleasures as well as flatterers, scoundrels and betrayers are not worthy of friendship. Cicero’s interpretation of friendship is undoubtedly influenced by the Greek philosophers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, Polybius, Peripatetics and others). Nevertheless, he offers original ideas. For example, he disagrees with Aristotle about people who are inclined to friendship: Aristotle considers weak people to seek protection and help in friendship, whereas Cicero’s true friendship is not based on profit. There is also a difference in their opinions concerning the kinds of friendship: Aristotle recognizes three kinds of friendship (based on a virtue, utility or pleasure), while Cicero acknowledges only friendship based on a virtue. Besides, Cicero’s thoughts about friendship are imbued with the Roman spirit: he gives many examples about Roman citizens and relies on his wide political experience. It must be stated that Cicero’s term ‘friendship’ has a political connotation: he believes that requirements of friendship should not contradict the state’s interests, people should not betray the motherland for the sake of a friend. To sum up, Cicero’s term ‘friendship’ is a combination of the ancient Greek ideas about friendship, the so called pure ethics, and the Roman notions of amicitia, which have a political connotation [Author]. Text in russian [Russian bibliography]
Works:
Link: https://ancientrome.ru/publik/article.htm?a=1511109134
Author initials: Bragova 2016a
