Ciceronis De Natura Deorum
To whom is De Rerum Deorum dedicated?
The work is dedicated to Marcus Brutus, adherent of the stoicised academy.
For whom in particular does he write the book?
for his son Marcus Tullius
How did Galen refer to Christianity?
philosophical school rather than superstition
what definition of religion does the Renaissance Humanism article accentuate?
superstition
Identify and Comment:
“Thank you for your very proper congratulations on my appointment to the office of augur… As I have reached the same priesthood and consulship at a much earlier age than (Cicero) did, I hope I may attain to something of his genius at least in later life.”
Wilken
Pliny bragging about his appointment in a letter to a friend.
What are the main three schools of thought?
Are virtues innate or learned?
both
Why were the Christians punished in the Roman Empire? 2 reasons
for being antisocial and stubborn/arrogant
What is dualistic philosophy?
belief that there are two kinds of reality - material (physical) and immaterial (spiritual); body and soul etc.
Identify and explain:
“look upon yonder dazzling sky, which all address as jove.”
Cicero's De Natura Deorum
The existence of the Gods is self-evident: it suffises to look up at the sky to be aware of it/to realize it etc.
What's Gods' nature, according to Epicurus.
According to Epicurus, gods are “blessed and eternal” and thus self-sufficient, uninterested in humanity and deprived of anger and desire etc.
What does Cicero mean by the common good?
society/social order/ the state etc.
What did philosophical schools teach men, according to Wilken? at least 3 items
´Discipline
´Self-control
´Moral life
´Justice
How did More’s Utopia echo Plato’s “noble lie”?
More keeps Gods' worship and piety because it instills fear in the subjects.
Identify and explain
“As Russell said, ’where there is evidence, no one speaks of faith.”
Renaissance Humanism article
critique of fideism
Does velleius accept the existence of the gods? On what grounds?
•Yes, he does. Despite the variety of visions of gods and disagreement on their nature, ideas of the gods are “innate” and we possess a “preconception”, so it must be true.
What's Cicero's position on wealth?
He's not against it; his position is favorable as long as your wealth is the result of hard work and virtue and does not contradict one's moral obligations. It cannot come from abuse of one's power/ position etc....
How did Porphyry's focus on the Book of Daniel help him deconstruct the Christian interpretation?
it showed that the Book of Daniel portrayed historical events while Christians interpreted it as prophecy.
theory that faith is independent of reason.
Identify and explain
“yet even children, even when idle, amuse themselves with some active sport...”
Cicero's on The Nature of the Gods
this is to argue that it's absurd to think that Gods are inactive and non concerned with human affairs.
Why does Cicero critique epicurean conception of god’s nature?
Cicero believes that without religion and piety towards the Gods, the foundations of the state will be threatened. God’s worship is necessary for the cultivation of virtue.
What does the example of a large cargo of corn help demonstrate?
it helps demonstrate that while the price of goods will fluctuate according to supply and demand law; it's sellers' responsibility/duty and moral obligation to demand fair price and not take advantage of the situation.
What’s Julian's critique of Moses’ story of creation? Which text provided a better account?
It's not as thorough, detailed and cohesive as Plato's Timaeus. It does not mention Angels.
Why does the Renaissance Humanism article criticize Montaigne's conception of truth?
Since Montaigne delays/ postpones the discovery of truth, according to the article, and places emphasis on the importance of the process of discovery. He thus undermines "progress."
“montaigne’s professed fideism is consistent with his stated preference for philosophers who persisted in their search for truth without claiming to have found it. The problem with idealizing the search for truth without putting to rest any settled questions is that it makes progress impossible.”
Identify and explain:
“What greater crime can there be than to kill not only a man, but an intimate friend?”
Cicero's De Officiis
The question is rhetorical; the answer Cicero provides is nuanced and contains a caveat.
Actually, yes it may be justifiable if the person was a tyrant and is a threat to the state and social order. For the higher good, certain crimes appear justifiable.