De finibus bonorum et malorum

Title: De finibus bonorum et malorum
Work type: Cicero - I - Works
Description:

The work was composed on 45 b.C.; divided into 5 books and in 3 dialogues (1st dialogue: I. & II. book; 2nd dialogue: III. & IV.; 3rd dialogue: V.), it contains the different ethic positions of Epicurean, Stoic and Peripatetic schools. Even though Cicero adpreciates Stoicism and, above all, Peripatetic ethics, the last dialogue doesnt’s seem to contain a real solution to the debate, generating a great aporia. [Tom Frazel]


Keywords: Philologie - Filologia - Philology, Religion - Religione - Religion, Sources - Fonti - Sources
Historical references:

From the beginning of the spring 45 b.C., M. T. Cicero, after another victory of Caesar (in 45, in Munda), decides to stay more away from political scene; now he starts staying in his numerous resorts: Tusculum, Arpinum and Astura.
Within a few months Cicero’ll write the most of his philosophical masterpieces. De finibus bonorum and malorum will be conceived (at the same time as Academica) during that summer.
This impetuous rapidity of composition had let many of ancient and modern commentators think that, for making these works, it had been put too less care.
This direction of criticism has summoned as witness the epistle Att. 12, 52, 3:
apographa sunt, minore labore fiunt; verba tantum adfero, quibus abundo.
Anyway, it seems evident that Cicero could use a great form of self-irony even though if it has been applied on one of his favourite task of that particular moment: giving to Rome a new, philosophical moral fondation.
[AntOrl]


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