On Duties – Cicero
What is a brief summary of “On Duties?”
Talks about how whose who govern need to view their responsibilities with care and with a goal to improve the public good.
How does it relate to the Nichomachean Ethics?
Cicero talks about moderation in emotions… Any access of emotion can become a bad thing; (Mean Between Extremes)
(Dao- too much good is not good)
We need to avoid excessive virtues so we can have a calm soul
(Dao- too much good is not good)
We need to avoid excessive virtues so we can have a calm soul
What are 2 major themes in this work?
Theme of moderation; Those who lead should have faith in their abilities yet should be humble and realize they don’t have all pwr.
Theme of order: “control the appetites”, we need to practice self-discipline and moderation to bring order and be stable and calm
How does it relate to Plato and Aristotle?
Plato: encourages reason; think about consequences of actions
Aristotle: moderation of emotions
Aristotle: moderation of emotions
Who is Cicero?
Tullius Cicero was Roman with Greek ideas;
Born in a wealthy family, became a persuasuvie lawyer, and wrote theories of law
Born in a wealthy family, became a persuasuvie lawyer, and wrote theories of law
What does Cicero write about?
Theories of law; Believed Roman gov is what binds the state together
What is the main emphasis in On Duties?
Service to the state
