Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a devoted Roman Republic citizen. It had been a standing institution for more than 500 years by the time he attained its highest position, that of consul, in 63 BCE. One of its final defenders was Cicero.

According to Cicero, we should focus on the good of the Republic rather than our own interests. In addition to others, we have a duty to one another as human beings. Cicero also advised that while determining our duties, we should always assume that the noble and honorable conduct is the same as the beneficial or profitable activity because no dishonest action can ever be conducive to the good of the Republic. This was crucial advice for later thinkers. Unfortunately, Cicero is slain by Octavian soldiers a year after finishing The Officiis.

One of the most well-known individuals in ancient Rome, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) made a significant impact on politics. Cicero, a powerful orator and statesman, contributed significantly to the growth of the Roman Republic and even served as its consul in 63 BCE.

He produced a larger body of work that includes inquiries into a number of other topics, but his most famous piece, De Officiis or On Duties, revealed his thoughts and beliefs on moral obligations. Cicero blended the philosophies of the Stoics, Academics, Epicurians, and Peripatetics into his writing in an effort to give Rome a wide spectrum of intellectual understanding. He is also one of the famous Roman philosophers.

Time: BC 3 - 43