First published 1998
In his later years, Marcus Tullius Cicero abandons his career in oratory and politics to pursue philosophical inquiry. He engages in dialogue with representatives of competing schools of thought: Velleius the Epicurean and Balbus the Stoic. Together they examine the most pressing questions about divine existence and human faith. Does God exist? If divine beings are real, do they respond to human prayers or interfere in mortal affairs? Can deities predict what lies ahead? Must religious belief underpin moral behavior? Cicero presents his own perspective as a monotheist aligned with the Academic School while giving voice to alternative viewpoints from Hellenistic philosophy. The conversation unfolds with clarity and logical precision, addressing concerns that remain relevant across centuries. This philosophical exploration influenced major Christian thinkers including Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, establishing its place in the development of Western religious thought.
Genres: philosophy, religion, ancient, ancient-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, philosophical, thought-provoking
Tropes: dialogue, philosophical-exploration
Setting: Hellenistic, Western
Period: 1st-century-BCE, Early-Christian, Medieval
288 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics