Individuality and hierarchy in Cicero’s De Officiis

Abstract

This essay explores a creative argument that Cicero offers to answer a fundamental question: how are we to judge among different ways of life? Is there a natural hierarchy of human types? In response to this problem, Cicero gives an account of a person’s possessing two natures. All of us participate in a general human nature, the characteristics of which provide us with certain universal duties and a natural moral hierarchy. But, we also each possess an individual nature, qualities that make us unique and which we have an obligation to cultivate. By employing different concepts of natura to refer either to common human nature or to particular individual nature, Cicero establishes a basis for a normative standard that manages to affirm the superiority of certain especially valuable types of life, such as the philosopher and the statesman. At the same time, he advances a coherent account of individuality that places high value on natural human diversity.

Cicero’s Educational Space From Intercultural Perspective: Semantics and Semiotics

“…Throughout his life, Cicero was developing a system of education and upbringing of a highly-moral person and a true citizen. The social, philosophical and political aspects of Cicero's views on the problem of educating the citizen are analysed in a number of publications (Bragova A.M., 2005;Knabe G.S., 1990;Utchenko S.L., 1974;1994;L'vov A.V., 2000;Wood N., 1998;Atkins J., 2013;Giorgini G., 2014;Hawley M., 2016;Maass R.W., 2012, etc. ); however, the intercultural and pedagogical aspects remain hidden behind the ones mentioned above.…”

Functional Aspects of Intercultural Communication. Translation and Interpreting Issues

“…Throughout his life, Cicero was developing a system of education and upbringing of a highly-moral person and a true citizen. The social, philosophical and political aspects of Cicero's views on the problem of educating the citizen are analysed in a number of publications (Bragova A.M., 2005;Knabe G.S., 1990;Utchenko S.L., 1974;L'vov A.V., 2000;Wood N., 1998;Atkins J., 2013;Giorgini G., 2014;Hawley M., 2016;Maass R.W., 2012, etc. ); however, the intercultural and pedagogical aspects remain hidden behind the ones mentioned above.…”