Join us Thursday, February 16th at 3:30 pm in 339 O’Shaughnessy Hall for a talk by Nathan Sawatzky, Political Science department, entitled “Cicero on the History of Philosophy from Plato to Us.” Refreshments will be provided.
Abstract:
Why should we study the history of philosophy? Is there ever a danger in doing so? Cicero’s answers to these questions are unusual in 21st century approaches to philosophy. As the De Legibus, De Re Publica, and other works show, Cicero weighs the relative merits of studying philosophy for its own sake vs. doing so as a means to becoming a great statesman. In doing so, he presents reasons for why one ought to study the great philosophers of the past – especially Plato. Philosophy is indispensable for discovering the truth, for establishing the natural basis of justice, for developing one’s own virtue, and for persuading others in word and deed to live lawfully in a republic. Nevertheless, there is also a time to stop studying philosophy. Moreover, a close reading of De Legibus reveals that Cicero presents himself (in the tradition of Plato) as an extraordinary model for future philosophers. So should we be studying him as such? Or are there risks, too, in that? A discussion will follow the talk.