![Book Cover of On the Ends of Good and Evil Marcus Tullius Cicero](/image/book/on-the-ends-of-good-and-evil-marcus-tullius-cicero.webp)
On the Ends of Good and Evil
'On the Ends of Good and Evil' Summary
First and second books (Liber Primus and Liber Secundus)
The first two books are a dialogue set at Cicero's country home in Cumae between himself and a young Epicurean named Lucias Torquatus, while another young Roman named Gaius Triarius listens on. In the first book, the interlocutors present the Epicurean theory of hedonism, which holds that pleasure in the form of aponia (absence of pain) is regarded as the highest good. In the second book, Cicero criticizes this view, attacking the Epicurean definition of pleasure and arguing that it is inconsistent to hold pleasure as the absence of pain as the final good, since these are not one single good, but rather two distinct goods.
Third and fourth books (Liber Tertius and Liber Quartus)
In the next two books Stoic ethics are discussed. In the third book Cicero's interlocutor, Marcus Porcius Cato, presents Stoic doctrine. Here Cicero introduces the technical terms used by the Stoics into Latin. The highest and only good of the Stoics is virtue (moral good). In the fourth book, Cicero casts doubt on this dogma, arguing a supposed natural state (the "cradle argument"), as well as issues regarding the exclusion of other goods entailed by Stoic doctrine.
Fifth book (Liber Quintus)
In the last book Cicero presents in the form of a dialogue between himself and several friends the theory of eudaimonia taught by Antiochus of Ascalon, which treats Aristotelianism as a subgroup of Platonism. This theory includes both virtue and external goods as the highest good. At the end of the book, Cicero criticized logical inconsistencies of this teaching, but more briefly and only addressing details, not broader principles. Cicero then declares that he follows this school of thought, albeit not without reservations, while respecting the valuable aspects of the teachings presented in the previous books.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
Classical LatinPublished In
45 BCEAuthor
![Marcus Tullius Cicero image](/thumbs/image/author/marcus-tullius-cicero.webp)
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Roman Republic
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher and Academic Skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the...
More on Marcus Tullius CiceroDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
![Parmenides Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/parmenides.webp)
Parmenides by Plato (Πλάτων)
Parmenides is one of the dialogues of Plato. It is widely considered to be one of the most challenging and enigmatic of Plato's dialogues. The Parmeni...
![The Genealogy of Morals Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-genealogy-of-morals.webp)
The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche
On the Genealogy of Morality: A Polemic is an 1887 book by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It consists of a preface and three interrelated tre...
![Godliness Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/godliness.webp)
Godliness by Catherine Booth
This Book is a profound and thought-provoking book that delves into the essence of true spiritual growth. This timeless masterpiece, written by Cathe...
![Laches Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/laches.webp)
Laches by Plato (Πλάτων)
The Laches is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato. Participants in the discourse present competing definitions of the concept of courage.
![The Critique of Practical Reason Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-critique-of-practical-reason.webp)
The Critique of Practical Reason by Immanuel Kant
The Critique of Practical Reason is the second of Immanuel Kant's three critiques, published in 1788. It follows on from Kant's first critique, the Cr...
![Moral Letters, Vol. II Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/moral-letters-vol-ii.webp)
Moral Letters, Vol. II by Seneca
This is the second volume of the Letters, Epistles LXVI-XCII. Among the personalities of the early Roman Empire there are few who offer to the readers...
![Philosophical Essays Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/philosophical-essays.webp)
Philosophical Essays by Bertrand Russell
Six out of seven essays appearing here were reprinted from other publications; indeed, this 1910 collection went out of print, so that two of the essa...
![Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/brihadaranyaka-upanishad.webp)
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad by Anonymous
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various sc...
![Character Building Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/character-building.webp)
Character Building by Booker T. Washington
Character Building is a compilation of speeches, given by Mr. Booker T. Washington, to the students and staff of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial In...
![Critias Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/critias.webp)
Critias by Plato (Πλάτων)
Critias, one of Plato's late dialogues, recounts the story of the mighty island kingdom Atlantis and its attempt to conquer Athens, which failed due t...
Reviews for On the Ends of Good and Evil
No reviews posted or approved, yet...