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Background
Background
Cicero (106 BC - 46 BC) lived at the time of Julius Caesar. He was a powerful politician in Rome, who thought that Rome should remain as a republic and not become an empire.
He translated a lot of Greek philosophy into Latin, and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary.
Cicero was very influential, not just in terms of his ideas, but also in terms of his style. Perhaps because he was a politician, his style was often combative, rather than cooperative, and so he (perhaps unintentionally) encouraged this kind of philosophising.
A summary of Cicero’s views on what makes good law
A summary of Cicero’s views on what makes good law
The good life is impossible without a good state; and there is no greater blessing than a well-ordered state.
—Cicero, De LegibusJustice and Law derive their origin from what nature has given to humankind, what the human mind accepts, from the function of humankind, and from what unites humanity.
True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrongdoing by its prohibitions.
—Cicero, De LegibusNatural Law obliges us to contribute to the good of society.
The purpose of laws is to provide for ‘the safety of citizens, the preservation of states and the tranquillity and happiness of human life.’
The aim of a ship's captain is a successful voyage; a doctor's, health; a general's, victory. So the aim of our ideal statesman is the citizens' happy life--that is, a life secure in wealth, rich in resources, abundant in renown, and honorable in its moral character. That is the task which I wish him to accomplish--the greatest and best that any man can have.
—Cicero, De LegibusA wicked and unjust law is not a law, because by definition the term ‘law’ means the principle of choosing what is just and true.
Laws ought to incentivise us (motivate us) to become virtuous and avoid vice.
A virtue is something that helps us to live together well.
The virtues which we ought to cultivate always tend to our own happiness, and that the best means of promoting them consists in living with men in that perfect union and charity which are cemented by mutual benefits.
—Cicero, De LegibusUltimately, Cicero lost the debate about whether Rome should remain a Republic. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, there were a series of civil wars eventually resulting in Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, taking power and being made Princeps (first citizen) by the Senate and people of Rome, and thus beginning the Principate or first period of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire became one of the largest Empires the world has ever seen. The map below shows how it expanded to its largest extent in 117 AD.
Tasks
Tasks
Explain Cicero’s ideas about what makes good law.
Explain one possible objection to Cicero's ideas
What do you think of Cicero’s ideas about the law? Do you agree with Cicero? Explain your answer.
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