Cicero&

the Eclectics

Cicero&

the Eclectics

Pierre GergisPierre Gergis

Eclecticism

• The concept of merging many ideas (from the Greek, eklektikos: choosing the best)

• Ancient philosophers who selected doctrines they deemed most reasonable

• Stoicism and Epicureanism made truth subordinate to practical virtue and happiness

• Skepticism denied pure truth’s impossibility

• Eclectics sought to select reasoning from stoics, peripatetic, and other doctrines to reach the highest probability of truth

Best-Known Eclectics

• Panaetius; Posidonius (stoics)

• Carnaedes; Philo of Larissa (New Academics)

• Varro

• Seneca

• And of course, the Roman Cicero

¡Eclecticism Exercise!

• Each individual takes a turn making a single, all-encompassing statement describing the best form of government

• Without altering anything, try to merge all ideas into three conclusive statements about the most ideal form of government

¡Eclecticism Exercise!

• Successful? Impossible?

Cicero

• Fully named Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

• Though he considered himself a part of the New Academy, he practiced, in essence, a form of Eclecticism based on Skepticism

• Very well versed in Pre-Socratic and Socratic philosophical literature

• Took credit not for being an independent contributor to philosophy, but for eloquently clothing Greek philosophy in Roman dress: “Verba tantum affero, quibus abundo.”

Basic Beliefs

• Knowledge: first expression of doctrine of innate ideas: all knowledge based on immediate certainty which is common to all men

• Antecedent to experience

Basic Beliefs

• Theology: proves existence of God using the concept of an innate idea of God common to all cultures and times

• Also uses Stoic teleological argument: Epicurean doctrine of chance is like the 21 letters in the Latin language being poured out and, at random, form the Annals of Ennius

Basic Beliefs

• Anthropology: belief in God founds his belief in the dignity of man

• The soul is immortal and supernaturally originated; different from matter

• Did not discount Stoic idea of firelike soul

• Proved the Platonic idea immortality of the soul as well as freedom of the will using the arguments of inner conviction and universal consent

Basic Beliefs

• Ethics: rejects Epicurean belief that the highest good is pleasure; but recognizes Stoic morality is too severe and exalted to be practically applied

• Teaches the Platonic and Aristotelian idea that honors and wealth are good, though virtue is the chief good

• The morally good is defined as that which is intrinsically praiseworthy

• Borrows idea of distinct vita beata (happy life; benefitted by virtue) and vita beatissima (completely happy life; benefitted by external goods and pleasures)

Other Notes

• Excellent memory and broad education made Cicero primarily an encyclopedist

• He was special, though, because he thoroughly understood what he recorded and translated into Latin

• Made no secret of his Greek sources

• He added his own notes to the teachings he recorded and applied them to Roman culture

• Never intended that any non-Roman would read his and Brutus’ work

New Academy

• Sides with Plato and Aristotle against Socrates in belief on history of philosophy

• Instead of questioning everything, they come up with some answers and beliefs

• Makes judgments as to what is practical

Legacy Very influential politician who sided with Brutus and Cato against the ambitious Caesar. He was also depicted in Shakespeare’s play: “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him.”

Legacy

• Eclectic idea of correct government:

• “In my opinion, royalty (regium) is far the best of the three particular forms of government; but it is very inferior to that government which is composed of the equal mixture of the three best forms of government united, modified, and tempered by each other. I wish, in fact, to see in a commonwealth, a princely and regal power (placet enim esse quiddam in republicâ, præstans et regale), that another portion of authority should be allotted to the nobles, and that certain things should be reserved to the judgment and wish of the people. This constitution possesses a noble character of equability—a condition necessary to the existence of every free people, and at the same time obtains a wonderful stability; whereas particular governments easily degenerate into something corrupt. Thus absolute monarchs are apt to become despots—aristocracies, factious oligarchies—and the populace a mob and a hubbub ( turba et confusio). It often happens, too, that these three kinds of government are expelled and replaced by each other. But in this Syncretic and Mixed government, which unites and amalgamates the partial forms, equal disasters cannot happen without outrageous misconduct among the grandees; for there exists no cause of revolution where every one is firmly established in his appropriate station, and there are few temptations to corrupt his integrity.”

Legacy

• Basically his view of government was radical and very influential

• He sought to merge the benefits of a monarchy (his favorite form of government) with the aristocracy and democracy

• Everyone could benefit and be in check

Impact

• Today, his governmental system seems very similar to America’s “checks & balances” system of government, and is a likely influence

• Eclecticism is the primary form of modern philosophy, for obvious reasons

• Cicero is widely respected for being, not only knowledgeable, but intellectual and influential (as a Senator)

• He learned everything about philosophy before his time, and used his knowledge to devise his own ideas and incorporate them into Roman government

¡Eclecticism Exercise!

• For the rest of your life, practice picking and choosing, as well as incorporating your own original contributions, to form the best philosophies in any field

Bibliography

• http://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/hop18.htm

• http://oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=745&Itemid=260

• http://books.google.com/books?id=3yUkzNLiY4oC&pg=PA721&lpg=PA721&dq=eclectic+philosophy+cicero&source=web&ots=5vBLgvATK6&sig=djoSSA3UtFCIRLSEZiKNxqD-QfE#PPA722,M1

• http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/eclectic.htm