About Cicero and his life

Cicero was born in the provincial town of Arpenius in 106 BC. He was a prominent figure of the Republican regime. From early on, he received brilliant legal, rhetorical and philosophical education. Especially in philosophy he has learned equally zealously about the differences between schools. Later, he made a trip to the East in Greece and Asia Minor, where he listened more to Poseidoni Rodoski and other philosophers. Along with his stormy political activity, which eventually became a victim in the year 43, being the most cruel of his political opponents, Cicero developed a tireless literary and, in particular, philosophical activity. He is the most prominent of all Roman philosophers.

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It has left us a whole range of philosophical and social-political treatises, among which the most famous are: "Academic Issues", which examines the problems of gnosis as developed at the Platonic Academy. "For the Highest Good and the Highest Evil". He critically examines Epicurean and Stoic ethics. "Tusculan Discussions". He examines a number of separate questions about death, tolerance, religion, and the essence of philosophy. "On the Nature of the Gods" - criticizes the Epicurean view of the gods. "On Predictions and Wonders". "For positions" - an applied ethics, mostly in a Stoic spirit. "About fate". Besides these, it includes a whole range of political treatises such as "Republic", "Laws", "Speaker", "For friendship", "Cannon for old age" and so on. Cicero's jobs are philosophical research and quests rather than the protection of certain rigid perceptions. He likes to learn from everyone. Most of his works are based on others but he is able to rework, critically compare and brilliantly expose the views of the schools. Himself in The "Tusculaan Discussion" justifies its eclecticism as follows: "I have always liked the custom of peripatetics to look at things from different and opposing points of view, because otherwise it is not possible to formulate correct opinion on one subject or another, that it is a wonderful oratory exercise. "

Cicero philosophy defines "For positions" as "science of divine and human things." To deal with it is a supreme duty and ultimate happiness for man, as it is a true guide to a proper life. "Oh, philosophy," he exclaims, "a guide in life, a teacher of virtue, a poet of vices! How can we exist without you not only us but all human life? You have created cities, you have connected the scattered people into public life by joining them from home in common homes, later in families, and ultimately in a community of language and science. You have learned the laws, you have learned of moral and good public order. We have recourse to you, we ask for help. One day well spent under your guidance is better than immortality if it is vicious. " /V.2,5/. Of course, in such statements we should not forget two things: on the one hand, at that time philosophy is still considered in the sense of science in general, and on the other hand, that in Cicero we find overestimating the human mental powers and attributing them as merit of things that are not of them and not through them. In any case, this does not diminish the significance of Cicero's enthusiasm for philosophy, which is shown not so much by statements as above, but by broad philosophical writing.

The pursuit of happiness, according to Cicero, is natural to all living beings and stems from the instinct of self-preservation. With the development of consciousness and reason, this instinct forces people to seek the true way of reaching complete self-preservation, which is at the same time as reaching bliss. This time it is pointed out by philosophy. And the first question she has to answer is: what is the essence of things and what is our purpose as humans?