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  1. Home
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  3. Cicero on the Philosophy of Religion
  • Cited by 13
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
September 2019
Print publication year:
2019
Online ISBN:
9781107707429
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107707429
Subjects:
Classical Studies, Classical Literature, Ancient Philosophy
Information

Book description

During the months before and after he saw Julius Caesar assassinated on the Ides of March, 44 BC, Cicero wrote two philosophical dialogues about religion and theology: On the Nature of the Gods and On Divination. This book brings to life his portraits of Stoic and Epicurean theology, as well as the scepticism of the new Academy, his own school. We meet the Epicurean gods who live a life of pleasure and care nothing for us, the determinism and beauty of the Stoic universe, itself our benevolent creator, and the reply to both that traditional religion is better served by a lack of dogma. Cicero hoped that these reflections would renew the traditional religion at Rome, with its prayers and sacrifices, temples and statues, myths and poets, and all forms of divination. This volume is the first to fully investigate Cicero's dialogues as the work of a careful philosophical author.

Reviews

'The burgeoning interest in Cicero's writings on philosophy takes a different turn in this pioneering treatment of his works on religion. J. P. F. Wynne provides a lucid, accessible, and attractively written introduction to Cicero's distinctive brand of sceptical dialogue in general, before turning to his markedly contrasting treatments of theology and of divination. His new book makes a powerful case for taking them to constitute a single extended and sophisticated project: 'moderating' religion, to secure it from the extremes of impiety and superstition.'

Malcolm Schofield - University of Cambridge

‘This is an outstanding contribution to the study of Cicero’s philosophical works.’

Harald Thorsrud Source: Journal of the History of Philosophy

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Contents

Contents
  • Chapter 1 - Cicero’s Project in On the Nature of the Gods and On Divination
    pp 50-82
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