Cover of The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by Cicero

The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by Cicero

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  • 14 hours to read
  • 14 chapters
  • Reading level: 10th to 12th grade

"The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations" by M.T. Cicero is a philosophical treatise written in the late 19th century. This work includes translations and discussions of various philosophical ideas attributed to Socrates and other ancient Greek philosophers, addressing topics such as ethics, virtue, and the nature of the good life. Cicero aims to present philosophical ideals in a form accessible to his contemporaries, emphasizing the importance of philosophy for personal and societal improvement. At the start of this collection, Cicero introduces the intent behind his work as he converses with friends discussing the necessity and value of engaging with philosophy, particularly the Greek philosophical traditions. The opening portion recounts a dialogue in which Cicero's friend, Varro, discusses his own philosophical pursuits and the reasons behind his writing. The discussion navigates through the significance of philosophy in contemporary life, its historical roots, and the challenge of expressing complex ideas in Latin. The participants reflect on the influence of previous philosophers, including Socrates and Plato, and the importance of translating and discussing these ideas in their native language to enrich their understanding and practices.

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  • Ethics · Early works to 1800
  • Happiness · Early works to 1800

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First Book of the Academic Questions

I. When a short time ago my friend Atticus(2) was with me at my villa in the district of Cumæ, news was sent us by Marcus(3) Varro, that he had arrived in Rome the day before in the evening, and that if he had not found himself too tired after his journey he should have proceeded at once to see us. But when we heard this, we thought that we ought not to suffer anything to delay our seeing a man so intimately connected with us by an identity of studies, and by a very long standing intimacy and friendship. And so we set out at once to go to see him; and when we were no great distance from his villa we saw him coming towards us; and when we had embraced him, as the manner of friends is, after some time we accompanied him back to his villa. And as I was asking a few questions, and inquiring what was the news at Rome, Never mind those things, said Atticus, which we can neither inquire about nor hear of without vexation, but ask him rather whether he has written anything new; for the muse of Varro has been silent much longer than usual; though I rather suppose he is suppressing for a time what he has written, than that he has been really idle. You are quite wrong, said he; for I think it very foolish conduct in a man to write what he wishes to have concealed. But I have a great work on hand; for I have been a long time preparing a treatise which I have dedicated to my friend here, (he meant me,) which is of great importance, and is being polished up by me with a good deal of care.

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. First Book of the Academic Questions
  3. Second Book of the Academic Questions
  4. First Book Of The Treatise On The Chief Good And Evil
  5. Second Book Of The Treatise On The Chief Good And Evil
  6. Third Book Of The Treatise On The Chief Good And Evil
  7. Fourth Book Of The Treatise On The Chief Good And Evil
  8. Fifth Book Of The Treatise On The Chief Good And Evil
  9. Introduction
  10. Book I: On The Contempt Of Death
  11. Book II: On Bearing Pain
  12. Book III: On Grief Of Mind
  13. Book IV: On Other Perturbations Of The Mind
  14. Book V: Whether Virtue Alone Be Sufficient For A Happy Life

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About this edition

This free edition of The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by Cicero by Marcus Tullius Cicero comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #29247, released 2009-06-26. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Classics of Literature, Philosophy & Ethics.

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