Cicero Born in January 106 BC, Marcus

Cicero

Born in January 106 BC, Marcus Tullis Cicero remains one of the most popular orators in ancient history. Because none of his ancestors served in the magistrate, Cicero was an "unusual" (Chodorow 105) man in Roman politics. He is admired primarily for his intelligence and literary talent. Many of Cicero's ambitious beliefs and ideas are still relevant today because they make compassionate appeals regarding mankind and his place in the universe.

Cicero was an affluent equestrian from Italy. He was an "optimas and defender of the senate" (Noble 201) and successfully led an opposition to Lucius Sergius Catilina. Cicero studied philosophy and oratory and, as a result, produced many prolific writings. In fact, he was critical to establishing Latin as the primary language for Greek philosophy. In addition, he also changed some of those philosophies to "suit" (Craig 151) Roman customs and beliefs.

He wrote over 100 orations as well as philosophical pieces on politics, ethics, and theology. Cicero's ability to motivate audiences was matched by very few orators. Thomas Noble asserts that Cicero knew "every rhetorical trick and precisely when each was appropriate. His orations are master pieces of sentences, and, above all, emotional power" (Noble 201). The most popular of his orations is against Catilina, where he argues that Catilina was plotting a debtors revolt.

Edward Clayton claims that many of Cicero's philosophical writings are modeled after the writings of Aristotle or Plato. While Cicero often spoke of philosophical issues, it is important to remember that he almost always had a "political purpose in mind" (Clayton). While he was an elitist, he was not considered an extremist and many Liberators were not terribly interested in Cicero's efforts.

In fact, Cicero was responsible for "unraveling and exposing the conspiracy of Catiline, which aimed at taking over the Roman state by force" (Clayton). As a result of this action, five conspirators were sentenced to death without receiving a trial per Cicero's command. Clayton observes that Cicero was proud of this and claimed that he had "single-handedly saved the commonwealth" (Clayton). Cicero always tried to remain politically independent, but when forced, he chose to support Pompey. This bond was strengthened when he attempted to seize control the state of Pompey while it was in the East. (Chodorow 105) This also made him an opponent of Caesar. When a Roman law that forced exile on anyone who killed a Roman citizen without trial, Cicero was forced to leave Rome. After over a year of exile, he was allowed to return to the city but he was not allowed to participate in politics. It was after this time of exile that Cicero composed many of his writings.

Cicero favored Stoicism and believe that al individuals shared a "spark of divinity and are protected by natural law" (Noble 203). He expressed sympathy for those who were poor and even accused artisans and merchants as "scum" (203). He also held a disdain for the democracy stating that the greatest number "should not have the greatest power" (203). He often spoke of citizens and their obligations to each other as well as the law. Cicero also emphasized the importance of responsibility of individuals who were in powerful positions.

The idea of natural law that was taught by many Stoics of the time was "enshrined" (Craig 151) in Cicero's treatise "De Legibus." He believed that "There is in fact a true law -- namely right reason -- which is in accordance with nature, applies to all men, and is unchangeable and eternal" (Chodorow 612). He explains Stoicism as a belief that the:

universe is governed by a divine will... from which it is a natural consequence that we should prefer the common advantage to our own... The traitor to his country foes not deserve greater reprobation than the man who betrays the common advantage or security for the sake of his own advantage or security. (Noble 146)

His ideas express compassion tempered with logic.

The political arena in Rome during Cicero's time was a loud and boisterous one. Cicero's letters give us insight into this element of Roman culture. It is through his letters that we are able to see how the political life in Rome operated during this time. (Craig 151) In fact, Petrarch discovered many of Cicero's works in the 1330s, which reveal a character "who was much more complex than the austere philosopher of medieval legend" (Noble 514). His letters also suggest that free speech was responsible for "gossip, plotting, factionalism, and flattery of Pompey and Caesar" (201). Cicero's writings also allow us to understand the development of Roman law. It is of historical significance because Cicero and his contemporaries established the idea of the legal expert (Noble 201). These individuals were extremely necessary because Roman law was so complex. Cicero and others offered possible solutions to problems encountered between the Roman elite and those disenfranchised by the Republic. In fact, many historians agree that the Western tradition of legal science was established in Rome during this time.

In addition, his views on other issues are important as well. In his essay entitled "On Friendship," he demonstrates his understanding of what it takes to be a good individual. For instance, he writes:

must at the very beginning lay down this principle -- friendship can only exist between good men... We mean then by the "good" those whose actions and lives leave no question as to their honour, purity, equity, and liberality; who are free from greed, lust, and violence; and who have the courage of their convictions. (Cicero)