Cicero: De Re Publica: SelectionsCicero's De re publica contains the fullest ancient account of the theory of the mixed constitution and the oldest extant narrative of early Roman history; it concludes with the Dream of Scipio, one of the most influential ancient visions of the afterlife. As a Platonic dialogue set in a Roman context, De re publica is in part an examination of Roman attitudes to Greek culture, in part a nostalgic evocation of an earlier and better Rome. The argument of the dialogue concerns the relationship between political theory and practice, and between social institutions and the individual citizen. This edition of most of the surviving portions of De re publica is the most detailed commentary ever to appear in English. It carefully explains Cicero's philosophical argument and its relationship to his account of early Rome, and thoroughly elucidates the language and style of the treatise. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
aequabilitas Africanus anacoluthon argument Arist aristocracy atque auctoritas autem C.'s account causa ciuitatis ciuium consilio consul Decemvirate dialogue Dicaearchus discussion eius emendation enim Ennius esset etiam fere Gracchus Greek haec hominum hyperbaton igitur illa illi inquit ipsa ipse ipsi lacuna Laelius Livy Lycurgus magistratus metaphor mihi mixed constitution modo monarchy Myth of Er neque nihil nisi nobis nomen ochlocracy Ogilvie on Livy OLD s.v. omnes omni omnia optimo orat otium Panaetius parallel passage Pease philosophical phrase Plato political Polybius populi potest primum quae quam quibus quid quidem quod rebus refers rege rei publicae relative clause rerum Roman Rome Romulus Scipio Senate sentence Servius Sest Somnium speech spheres statesman sunt Superbus tamen Tarquinius Tiberius Gracchus tribunate tricolon Tusc uero uirtus uita unius unum verb Ziegler