579. De Officiis 1, translated by Griffin and Atkins- Summary

579.  De Officiis 1, translated by Griffin and Atkins


Duty is the obligation we have to use the common intellect we all share to use what we know for the benefit of society.  In everything we do we have a responsibility to think very carefully about 5 things:  whether something we plan to do is honorable or dishonorable, will this act lead to something beneficial not just to ourselves but to society also, what do we do when what is beneficial to society conflicts with what is honorable, which of two honorable paths is better, which of two beneficial things is more beneficial.

A person lives an honorable life by preservation of self, procreation, planning, thinking, living life in such a way to unite fellow humans in fellowship, getting together with other people, searching for truth.

Thus honorableness comes about via these four:
pursuing wisdom
practicing justice
practicing courage
using good sense

Wisdom is searching for the truth.  Of the four just mentioned this is the most closely related to human nature.  By this Cicero means that searching for truth is natural- it is a characteristic a human has from birth and it is honorable- by pursuing wisdom/truth we bow to our human nature and be what we are.

We should never agree to what is false.  This next is difficult to grasp:  we should pursue truth, we should learn and study.  These are essential, but we should avoid unnecessary study.  The reason for this lies in Cicero’s title for this work; duty.  We have a duty to pursue wisdom but not at the expense of our natural commitment to society as a whole.  Action is an essential part of the whole picture.  But Cicero realizes that reflective thought brings clarity and insight to matters at hand.  Thus balance is necessary.

Justice is activity.  It is involvement in the purpose of society.  One of the primary causes of injustice is fear.  I must act before my enemy does.  Much of the time injustice is done out of greed.  But Cicero declares that a person can not benefit self by destroying bonds between people.  There are two types of injustice:  inflict injury, failure to stop or prevent an injury.  An excessive quest for glory can lead to injustice too.  Something which fits with last statement is this:  a premeditated injustice is worse than sudden impulse.  No one likes a sneak.  Those who fail to prevent injustice weaken the bonds of society.

Justice is not hard and fast but requires a careful look and examination of matters to make the correct interpretation of what action to take.

Then Cicero discusses justice in war.  There are two types of war:  preservation(survival) and conquest.  War is undertaken to live in peace without injustice, the goal of peace can not have anything of treachery connected.  War can not be undertaken without formal request for correction of wrongs committed.  It is important to understand that Cicero did not believe in peace simply for the sake of peace.  Cicero discusses the importance of keeping faith even in matters of war- a person must always think of what was meant not what was said.  Nothing is worse than those who betray trust appear to be trustworthy. 

Beneficence is suited to human nature.  It bonds society together.  It is an honorable pursuit.  It must not harm anyone.  The act of kindness must not be beyond the means of the individual.  Cicero puts it this way:  nothing is liberal which is not just.

What lies at the heart of bonds between people?  Cicero says that the first is speech.  This allows us to share what we know.  Allows discussion on decisions to be made.  This power of speech rests on our shared ability to reason.

Stoics define courage as that virtue which fights on behalf of fairness.  If courage fights not for common safety but for it own advantage it is a vice.  Courage must be connected with justice to be courage.

Cicero notes that those who have drive and ability have an obligation to remain involved to do goof for the Republic.  I suggest that this is the reason Cicero was so disappointed in Caesar.  He used what he had for himself first.

Cicero uses the word seemliness.  Seemliness is shown when someone shows restraint and/or modesty.  Seemliness is carefully watching every word and action in light of what is honorable:  pursuing truth, practicing justice, fighting for common safety.

This is the difference between seemliness and justice:  justice is doing no harm to anyone, seemliness is not acting in such a way to outrage someone.  Impulses must be controlled, reason in all cases must prevail.

Cicero also discuses proper walk, dress, manner, speech, jokes. All this flows from all that is honorable.  Human nature is the foundation.  For those who think that Cicero here is totalitarian I offer this example.  All of us walk.  But there is a walk which is appropriate for each person but then there is a walk which displays conceit, arrogance or crudity.  Any teacher with experience knows what I mean.  Cicero says that we must act in such a way that we do nothing contrary to universal nature, yet we need to follow our own nature too.  He realizes that people are different. 

Connected with the above is this.  Everyone should acquire knowledge of own talents and show oneself a sharp judge of one’s own good qualities and faults.

Cicero also says something which is in dire need in present society.  As nature has so designed our bodies to conceal what is to be done in private so there are certain things which are proper to do but not discuss in public.  Some people have neglected to understand that being frank does not mean being crude. 

It is important to reprove someone perhaps with the appearance of anger but it is important not actually to be angry.  Impulses must be controlled, reason must prevail.

When undertaking any action:
-impulse must obey reason
-keep in mind that what we want to achieve does not interrupt our commitment to society
-maintain our standing as a person of good sense

Duties of justice must be given precedence over our pursuit of knowledge.  Cicero states it this way:  who would not drop what they are doing and come to the aide of their country?  Learning must be joined with virtue which reaches out to society. 

Cicero makes a big deal of society.  He does not think that societies were formed to meet comfort needs and necessities.  Humans are social by nature he says.  Cicero suggests that if magically all needs and comforts were met, people would still gather to share and learn.