Paradoxa Stoicorum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

The Stoic Paradoxes (Latin: Paradoxa Stoicorum) is a work by Cicero.

Dating[edit]

It was written in 46 BC (p. 39).[1]

Manuscripts[edit]

The earliest dates are from the 9th century (p. 124).[2]

Contents[edit]

Webb states Cicero was motivated to write the work in order to re-express Stoic arguments within the language of rhetorical Latin, a view which is supported by the fact of Cicero stating his effort is in order to make a version of an original Greek work in a language appropriate for the mode of the Forum.[3]

Dedication[edit]

The work is dedicated to a person named Brutus.[4]

Subject[edit]

The subject of the work is the support of a principle of stoic thought, this being the paradoxes.[1] The work is concerned specifically with six of these:[5]

I - Virtue is the only good

II - Virtue is sufficient for happiness (Virtue is all that is needed for happiness [6])

III - All the vices and all virtues are equal

IV - All fools are madmen

V - The sage alone is free (Only the sage is free and every fool is a slave [6])

VI - Only the wise man is rich

Scholarship[edit]

Debate has identified a vein of thought running along both this piece and within the body of the Pro Murena.[7][8]

Marcantonius Majoragio (1514–1555[9]) wrote a work, perhaps a diatribe, in the least contrary to Cicero, entitled the antiparadoxon [10][11]

Editions[edit]

Paradoxa stoicorum ad M. Brutum (Latin) (ed. J. G. Baiter, C. L. Kayser)

The booke of Marcus Tullius Cicero entituled Paradoxa Stoicorum. Contayninge a precise discourse of diuers poinctes and conclusions of vertue and phylosophie according the traditions and opinions of those philosophers, whiche were called Stoikes. Wherunto is also annexed a philosophicall treatyse of the same authoure called Scipio hys dreame. Anno. 1569

The book of Cicero entitled Paradoxa Stoicorum - Containing a precise discourse of diverse points and conclusions of virtue and philosophy according (to the) philosophers called Stoiks. Within this also is taken and placed a philosophical treatise of the same author called Scipio his dream. Published in the year 1569, translated by Thomas Newton.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b D Mehl. The Stoic Paradoxes according to Cicero (in) Vertis in Usum - edited by C Damon, JF Miller, KS Myers. Walter de Gruyter, 2002 ISBN 3598777108. Retrieved 2015-03-19. 
  2. ^ P.M. Clogan - professor of English at the University of North Texas and a fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Studies in Medieval & Renaissance Culture: Breaching Boundaries, Issue 20. Rowman & Littlefield, 1994 ISBN 0847678822. 
  3. ^ M.O. Webb (1985). Cicero's Paradoxica Stiocorum: A New Translation with Philosophical Commentary (PDF). Texas Tech University. Retrieved 2015-12-27. 
  4. ^ W Englert (2011). Bringing to the Light: Cicero's Paradoxa Stoicorum. Apeiron, Volume 23, Issue 4. pp. 117–142. Retrieved 2015-04-08. DOI: 10.1515/APEIRON.1990.23.4.117
  5. ^ ML Colish (1990). The Stoic Tradition from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages: Stoicism in classical latin literature. BRILL. p. 128. ISBN 9004093273. Retrieved 2018-03-19.  Check date values in: |access-date= (help)Studies in the History of Christian Thought
  6. ^ a b S Ebbesen. Stoicism: Traditions and Transformations - edited by Steven K. Strange, Jack Zupko. Cambridge University Press, 21 Jun 2004 ISBN 1139453769. Retrieved 2015-03-19. 
  7. ^ B.P. Wallach - Rhetoric and Paradox: Cicero, 'Paradoxa Stoicorum IV' Hermes 118. Bd., H. 2 (1990), pp. 171-183 Published by: Franz Steiner Verlag [Retrieved 2015-04-08]
  8. ^ Encyclopædia Brittanica - Pro-Murena[Retrieved 2015-04-08](ed. used only to identify nature of the thing which is < Pro Murena >)
  9. ^ TB Deutscher (professor in the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan.) - Contemporaries of Erasmus: A Biographical Register of the Renaissance and Reformation, Volumes 1-3 University of Toronto Press, 2003[Retrieved 2015-04-08]
  10. ^ J Papy - Christian Humanism: Essays in Honour of Arjo Vanderjagt BRILL, 2009 (edited by AAA MacDonald - Ph.D. (1978), University of Edinburgh, is Professor of English Language and Literature of the Middle Ages, University of Groningen, ZRWM von Martels - Ph.D. (1989), University of Groningen, is Lecturer in Classics at the University of Groningenĥ, J Riepke Veenstra - Ph.D. (1997), Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, is currently Lecturer in English at the University of Groningen) ISBN 9004176314 [Retrieved 2015-04-09]
  11. ^ Merriam-Webster - diatribe [Retrieved 2015-04-09]