Marcus Tullius Cicero - On the Ends of Good and Evil & Selections from Writings

On the Ends of Good and Evil – De finibus bonorum et malorum
Towards the end of his life, and his career as one of the leading politicians and orators in Rome, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BCE-43 BCE) was exiled to his country house. It was a time of political turmoil in the capital of the Empire caused by the power-grab of Julius Caesar. In the quiet of the countryside, Cicero began to write on philosophy. In On the Ends of Good and Evil he set out to consider three major traditions of Greek philosophy – Epicureanism, Stoicism and a branch of Platonism proposed by Antiochus of Ascalon (promoting ‘the happy life.’) Using a form of the dialectical approach established by Plato in his Socratic Dialogues, Cicero introduces characters who propose each tradition, and then Cicero himself responds with a critical appraisal – a stimulating and engaging pattern. De finibus bonorum et malorum (meaning also the ‘final or ultimate aim’ of good and evil) is a fascinating document.  And, as suiting a man of the world (which Cicero clearly was) he comes to a preferred conclusion after surveying the three traditions. Interestingly, the work opens with an introductory passage in which Cicero explains why he is writing a work such as this, giving an intriguing insight into his time. In Rome, he explains, the study of Greek philosophy was the preserve of Romans who read Greek, and translations of the originals into Latin were frowned upon by scholars. Cicero felt this lofty attitude should not be the case. The wisdom of the past should be open to everyone, he argues, and proceeds to summarise the Greek philosophic traditions  and offer critiques for the benefit of his fellow Roman citizens.  Translation by H. Harris Rackham.
http://ukemiaudiobooks.com/on-the-ends-of-good-and-evil


Selections from the Writings of Cicero
Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote on a wide range of subjects, from Greek philosophy to moral duty to friendship. Though he considered philosophy secondary to politics and often used his writings for explicit political ends, his work has nevertheless been widely read for over two thousand years and has influenced everything from the culture of the Renaissance to the ideals of the founding fathers of the United States. This edition contains three of Cicero's best-known works.

In "On Friendship," from his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age, Cicero examines the nature of true friendship, which he considers to be based on virtue and dependent upon honesty, truth, and trust. In De Officiis, or "On Duties," written as a letter to his son, Cicero shares his beliefs about the potential conflicts between moral obligation and expedience. Finally, "Scipio's Dream," the sixth book of On the Republic, describes a fictional dream vision of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, set two years before the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.
https://tantor.com/selections-from-the-writings-of-cicero-marcus-tullius-cicero.html

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