Английская Википедия:De fato
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De Fato (English: "Concerning Fate") is a partially lost philosophical treatise written by the Roman orator Cicero in 44 BC. Only two-thirds of the work exists; the beginning and ending are missing.[1][2] It takes the form of a dialogue, although it reads more like an exposition,[1][3] whose interlocutors are Cicero and his friend Aulus Hirtius.
In the work, Cicero analyzes the concept of Fate, and suggests that free will is a condition of Fate.[4][5] Cicero, however, does not consciously deal with the distinction between fatalism and determinism.[6]
It appears that De Fato is an appendix to the treatise on theology formed by the three books of De Natura Deorum and the two books of De Divinatione.[7] These three books provide important information regarding Stoic cosmology and theology.[8]
History
De fato is part of the second group of Cicero's writings.[1][9] The work was composed at Pozzuoli between April 17 and May 23 of 44 BC.[1][3] In any case, the work would have most likely been completed prior to Cicero's abortive departure for Greece in July of that year.[1][3] The work was written in haste, as Cicero was planning to return to the political arena.[1][2]
Argumentation
Hirtius notes that Cicero has adopted the Academic method of investigation: arguing against all propositions.[10] Therefore, he outlines the positions of Democritus, Heraclitus, Empedocles, and Aristotle as those who maintained that everything happens by necessity. As such Cicero develops the propositions of fate and necessity as follows:
Cicero essentially dismisses this proposition as antithetical to what is observed, but postulates freedom as a necessity for moral life.[6] Ultimately, Cicero maintains this position as he is emotionally convinced that it is in man's power to achieve virtue for himself; if determinism were the order of things, then such ability would not be true.[6]
See also
- De Natura Deorum
- De Divinatione
- Compatibilism
- Incompatibilism
- Destiny
- Alexander of Aphrodisias, who also wrote a treatise titled On Fate
References
External links
- De Fato, Latin text, at The Latin Library
- H. Rackham, (1948) Cicero: De Oratore, Vol. ii. Loeb Classical Library [De Fato, pp. 189–251].
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 R. W. Sharples. Cicero: On Fate (De fato) & Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy IV.5-7, V (Philosophiae Consolationis). Aris & Phillips Ltd, 1991.
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 Preface, iv
- ↑ 3,0 3,1 3,2 Introduction, 5
- ↑ Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Trans. C.D. Yonge The treatises of M.T. Cicero: On the nature of the gods; On divination; On fate; On the republic; On the laws; and On standing for the consulship. pg. 264. London G. Bell, 1878. Web.
- ↑ Cicero, De fato. I.
- ↑ 6,0 6,1 6,2 Henry, Margaret Y. Cicero's Treatment of the Free Will Problem. Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, 58 pp. 32-42. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1927. Web.
- ↑ Cicero. On the Orator: Book 3. On Fate. Stoic Paradoxes. Divisions of Oratory, pg. 189. Translated by H. Rackham. Loeb Classical Library 349. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1942.
- ↑ Colish, Marcia. The Stoic Tradition from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages, Volume 1, pg 109
- ↑ Introduction, 3
- ↑ Cicero, De fato. II.
