Phil 3151: Cicero in Context

Cicero Denounces Catiline, fresco by Cesare Maccari, 1882-1888

Background Readings: On the Nature of the Gods

Stoic Metaphysics: Diogenes Laertius 7.132-160, Cleanthes’ Hymns to Zeus, and Cicero’s On the Nature of the Gods 2 (selections) (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 132-161).

Epicurean Metaphysics: Epicurus’ “Letter to Herodotus” (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp.5-19); Short Fragments and Testimonia from Uncertain Works (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp 85-95).

Background Readings: On Academic Skepticism

Stoic Epistemology: Diogenes Laertius 7.42-83 (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 111-124).

Early Pyrrhonian Skepticism: Diogenes Laertius’ Life of Pyrrho 9.61-108 and Timon and Aenesidemus (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 285-302).

Late Pyrrhonian Skepticism: Sextus Empiricus’ Outlines of Pyrrhonism (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 302-337).

Background Readings: On Moral Ends

Stoic Ethics: Diogenes Laertius 7.84-131 (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 190-203); Seneca’s Letters on Ethics (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 244-252).

Epicurean Ethics: Diogenes Laertius' The Principal Doctrines 10.139-154 (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 32-36); Short Fragments and Testimonia (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 95-102).

Skeptical Ethics: Sextus Empiricus' Outlines of Pyrrhonism 3.168-197, 3.239-249 and Adversus Mathematicos 11.96-98 and 11.160-166 (Hellenistic Philosophy, pp. 387-397).