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“Selected Works of Roman statesman/philosopher Cicero. Has some of his correspondence, the Second Phillipic against Anthony, and a couple of his philosophical essays. Book's presented in chronological order, stitched together with explanations, so it almost works as a biography.
TheophileEscargot wrote this review Saturday, May 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I'd assumed that his vanity was an exaggeration, but he certainly seems to have thought a lot of himself. However it's definitely interesting to read. The Phillipic is an awesome flame combining almost every insult imaginable at the (alleged) corrupt drunken male prostitute.
Has a couple of philosophical works. His essay on old age isn't bad, though a little optimistic: wish I could believe it's only the weak-minded who find their faculties decaying.
Wasn't so impressed with the third part of his "On Duties" work. He tries to argue that one's advantages can never truly be in conflict with virtue, so conflicts between virtue and self-interest are illusory. Reminds me a bit of Aleister Crowley's line that True Wills can never be in conflict. Don't find either version very convincing.
The details of the problems he describes are interesting though. Some of them are strikingly contemporary, like whether to reveal problems in a house that you're selling; or whether to sell food at a high price when you know there are other cargoes arriving. Some of them seem like no-brainers to modern morality however: if your ship needs cargo thrown overboard to lighten it, should you chuck off a valuable racehorse or a worthless slave?
Overall, some fascinating content. Certainly well worth reading, or at least dipping into.”
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