| | Cicero’s philosophical works were core texts in the traditional Latin-based liberal arts curriculum. His ethical and political texts include ''De Officiis'', ''De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum'', ''De Re Publica'', and ''De Legibus''. ''De Officiis'', ''On Duties'', was a standard text on ethics read by every educated student prior to the 19th century. It was treasured by scholars and theologians including St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and Thomas Aquinas. It was championed by Petrarch, Erasmus, Grotius, [[John Locke|Locke]], Hume, Jefferson, John Adams, and James Wilson. Cicero was a staunch defender of property rights, natural law, and republican values. | | Cicero’s philosophical works were core texts in the traditional Latin-based liberal arts curriculum. His ethical and political texts include ''De Officiis'', ''De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum'', ''De Re Publica'', and ''De Legibus''. ''De Officiis'', ''On Duties'', was a standard text on ethics read by every educated student prior to the 19th century. It was treasured by scholars and theologians including St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and Thomas Aquinas. It was championed by Petrarch, Erasmus, Grotius, [[John Locke|Locke]], Hume, Jefferson, John Adams, and James Wilson. Cicero was a staunch defender of property rights, natural law, and republican values. |
| | Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by [[Catiline]] among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust. | | Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by [[Catiline]] among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust. |
| | Later, during the tumultuous years near the end of the republic, Cicero was ultimately forced to support either Augustus or Mark Anthony. | | Later, during the tumultuous years near the end of the republic, Cicero was ultimately forced to support either Augustus or Mark Anthony. |