New Books in Intellectual History Vittorio Bufacchi, "Why Cicero Matters" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Feb 4, 2025
Vittorio Bufacchi, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork, discusses his book, highlighting the profound relevance of Cicero in today's political climate. He contrasts Cicero's republican ideals with Julius Caesar's authoritarianism, emphasizing the importance of civic duty in a democracy. Bufacchi argues for the role of culture and philosophy in fostering morality and critiques contemporary wealth-driven politics. His insights offer a roadmap for modern citizens to engage meaningfully with their political landscape.
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Philosopher Who Practiced Politics
- Cicero uniquely combined a political career with serious philosophical writing, serving as consul while engaging in philosophy.
- This dual role makes him especially relevant for thinking about democracy and civic responsibility today.
Modern Democracies Mirror Rome's Crisis
- Bufacchi argues modern democracies face threats similar to late Republican Rome from populists and authoritarians.
- Cicero's life shows democracy can fail quickly if citizens and institutions weaken.
Cicero's Vast Surviving Letters
- Bufacchi notes we possess roughly 2,000 of Cicero's letters, giving extraordinary insight into Roman politics.
- That surviving correspondence makes Cicero one of the best-documented figures of antiquity.
