On the Emotions: Tusculan Disputations 3 and 4

by Marcus Tullius Cicero, Margaret R. Graver (Translation)

The third and fourth books of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations deal with the nature and management of human first grief, then the emotions in general. In lively and accessible style, Cicero presents the insights of Greek philosophers on the subject, reporting the views of Epicureans and Peripatetics and giving a detailed account of the Stoic position, which he himself favors for its close reasoning and moral earnestness. Both the specialist and the general reader will be fascinated by the Stoics' analysis of the causes of grief, their classification of emotions by genus and species, their lists of oddly named character flaws, and by the philosophical debate that develops over the utility of anger in politics and war.

Margaret Graver's elegant and idiomatic translation makes Cicero's work accessible not just to classicists but to anyone interested in ancient philosophy and psychotherapy or in the philosophy of emotion. The accompanying commentary explains the philosophical concepts discussed in the text and supplies many helpful parallels from Greek sources.

Genres: Philosophy

283 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2002

About the author

Born 3 January 106 BC, Arpinum, Italy
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.

Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone

Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.

Reviews

[RubberSalad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern and very careful translation of books 3 and 4 of the Tusculan Disputations, with excellent and extensive commentary. The commentary, and the appendices attached, give the book a different look. Rather than just a translation of pseudo-Stoic treatises, it turns more into a comparative account of ancient theories of emotion; the Stoic position being the protagonist.

I cannot stress the commentary's importance well enough. In many instances, Graver fills the gaps left by Cicero when describing Stoic accounts of a given topic. In some instances, some distinctions are more fine-tuned. If a section is unusual within the context (such as Cicero's attack of erotic love, when Stoics approved of it) Graver points this out. In general, the commentary is very thorough and systematic in its approach.

[Michael Baranowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat dry, but if you're even considering buying anything like this, you pretty much know that going in. A nice translation, though with a lot more commentary than I care to read. In terms of philosophical content, it's typical Cicero - a well-argued 'Stoic in all but name' approach.

[Stelios · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok - good

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I know, de contemptu mundi and all that, but, dude. Yr daughter just died. Stop being such a philosopher.