Discussion: On Obligations: De Officiis

Author: Marcus Tullius Cicero

Description: Cicero’s De Officiis (44 BCE), or On Obligations, is a philosophical treatise on ethics and moral duty, written as a letter to his son Marcus. Drawing on Stoic and Greek thought, Cicero explores how to balance moral righteousness (honestum) with practical benefit (utile). Structured in three books, it addresses moral goodness, expediency, and their reconciliation in ethical dilemmas. Cicero discusses duties in public and private life, emphasizing justice, beneficence, and temperance, with examples from Roman history. Written during political turmoil after Caesar’s assassination, it reflects Cicero’s attempt to guide moral conduct in a fracturing republic. The work profoundly influenced Western ethical thought, shaping Renaissance humanism and Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Hume. Its clear, rhetorical style makes it accessible, though its Roman context may feel distant to modern readers. De Officiis remains a foundational text in moral philosophy, offering timeless insights into ethical decision-making.

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