Cicero’s Skepticism and His Recovery of Political Philosophy (Recovering Political Philosophy)

This book explores Cicero’s moral and political philosophy with great attention to his life and thought as a whole. The author “thinks through” Cicero with a close reading of his most important philosophical writings. Nicgorski often resolves apparent tensions in Cicero’s thought that have posed obstacles to the appreciation of his practical philosophy. Some of the major tensions confronted are those between his Academic skepticism and apparent Stoicism, between his commitment to philosophy and to politics, rhetoric and oratory, and between his attachment to Greek philosophy and his profound engagement in Roman culture. Moreover, the key theme within Cicero’s writings is his intended recovery, within his Roman context, of both the Socratic focus on great questions of practical philosophy and Socratic skepticism. Cicero’s recovery of Socratic political philosophy in Roman garb is then the basis for recovery of Cicero as a notable political thinker relevant to our time and its problems. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Skepticism, Politics, And A Philosophical Foundation -- Cicero's Skepticism -- Skepticism Versus Wisdom -- Skepticism In The Service Of Wisdom -- 2. The Critical And Rhetorical Modes Of Philosophy -- Socratic Method -- Socratic Irony And Socratic Skepticism -- The Socratic Way Of Life -- The Mixed Modes Of Cicero -- Perfecta Philosophia -- 3. Duties And Virtue -- The Right And The Useful -- Nature, Natural Law, And The Virtues -- The Norms Of Utility -- The Primary Need: Statesmanship -- Assessing The Philosophical Schools -- 4. Political Philosophy And The Roman Republic -- The Loving Quarrel With Plato -- The Imagery Of Contract And The Importance Of Consent -- The Assertion And Implication Of Equality -- The Nature Of Genuine Progress -- Property: End Or Means? -- Beyond The Roman Community -- 5. The Socratic Statesman -- The Requisites Of Statesmanship -- Developing The Prudent Statesman -- Friendship's Role In Statesmanship -- The Troubled Path Of Glory -- Virtue As True Glory. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 251-266).and Index. CONTENTS AcknowledgmentsSeries Editors ForewordPrefatory NoteChronology of Cicero's Life and WritingsIntroduction Chapter 1 Skepticism, Politics and a Philosophical Foundation Cicero's Skepticism Skepticism Versus Wisdom Skepticism in the Service of Wisdom Chapter 2 The Critical and Rhetorical Modes of Philosophy Socratic Method Socratic Irony and Socratic Skepticism The Socratic Way of Life The Mixed Modes of Cicero Perfecta Philosophia Chapter 3 Duties and VirtueThe Right and the Useful Nature, Natural Law and the Virtues The Norms of Utility The Primary Statesmanship Assessing the Philosophical Schools Chapter 4 Political Philosophy and the Roman Republic The Loving Quarrel With Plato The Imagery of Contract and the Role of Consent The Assertion and Implication of Equality The Nature of Genuine Progress End or Means? Beyond the Roman Community Friendship's Role in Statesmanship The Troubled Path of Glory Virtue as True Glory Epilogue ReferencesIndex of Citations of CiceroIndex This volume explores Cicero's moral and political philosophy with great attention to his life and thought as a whole. The author 'thinks through' Cicero with a close reading of his most important philosophical writings. Nicgorski often resolves apparent tensions in Cicero's thought that have posed obstacles to the appreciation of his practical philosophy. Some of the major tensions confronted are those between his Academic skepticism and apparent Stoicism, between his commitment to philosophy and to politics, rhetoric and oratory, and between his attachment to Greek philosophy and his profound engagement in Roman culture. Moreover, the key theme within Cicero's writings is his intended recovery, within his Roman context, of both the Socratic focus on great questions of practical philosophy and Socratic skepticism Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction....Pages 1-13 Chapter 1 Skepticism, Politics, and a Philosophical Foundation....Pages 15-58 Chapter 2 The Critical and Rhetorical Modes of Philosophy....Pages 59-96 Chapter 3 Duties and Virtue....Pages 97-153 Chapter 4 Political Philosophy and the Roman Republic....Pages 155-203 Chapter 5 The Socratic Statesman....Pages 205-243 Back Matter....Pages 245-283