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Cover

Cicero

Political Philosophy

Malcolm Schofield

January 2021

ISBN: 9780199684922

304 pages
Paperback
234x153mm

In Stock

Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought

Price: £19.99

This book offers an innovative account of Cicero's treatment of key political ideas: liberty and equality, government, law, cosmopolitanism and imperialism, republican virtues, and ethical decision-making in politics. Cicero (106-43 BC), a major figure in Roman politics, was the first to articulate a philosophical rationale for republicanism.

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Description

This book offers an innovative account of Cicero's treatment of key political ideas: liberty and equality, government, law, cosmopolitanism and imperialism, republican virtues, and ethical decision-making in politics. Cicero (106-43 BC), a major figure in Roman politics, was the first to articulate a philosophical rationale for republicanism.

  • Situates Cicero's writings within historical context
  • Focuses on key political ideas that are still highly topical
  • Written in an accessible and engaging style for a student readership
  • Written by a leading expert in the field

About the Author(s)

Malcolm Schofield, Emeritus Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge, and Fellow of St John's College

Malcolm Schofield has taught ancient philosophy in Cambridge for close on 50 years, and is a wide-ranging and highly productive scholar, of major international standing. He joined G.S. Kirk and J.E. Raven as co-author of The Presocratic Philosophers (Cambridge 1983 [second edition]). With Jonathan Barnes and M.F. Burnyeat he co-founded in 1978 a long-running series of Symposia Hellenistica, which have done much to foster work of high quality on a previously understudied area of Greek and Roman philosophy. He has also been active more broadly in UK Classics, most recently as Chair of the British School at Athens (2010-16).

Table of Contents

    1: Introduction: contexts
    2:Liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty
    3:Government
    4:Cosmopolitanism, imperialism, and the idea of law
    5:Republican virtues
    6:Republican decision-making
    7:Epilogue: philosophical debate and normative theory
    Bibliography
    Index of passages
    General index

Reviews

"Cicero is detailed, challenging, and fascinating, offering a thorough account of Cicero's political thought that is both situated within his particular and disruptive historical context and in constant dialogue with modern political theory ... This is a masterful and lively study, which will be of value to all those with an interest in ancient political philosophy, and, indeed, Republican politics and history." - Jenny Bryan, Greece & Rome

"I would recommend this book immediately as the first stop for anyone looking for a clear and accessible account of Cicero's political philosophy." - Sean McConnell, University of Otago, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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