Video And Podcast Resources On Cicero's On Duties
key ideas of Stoic virtue ethics from book 1 of the work
Some time back, I created a sequence of core concept videos focused specifically on topics within Marcus Tullius Cicero's work of Stoic ethics, On Duties. I originally began shooting these resources on book 1 of the work for my students enrolled in Ethics classes I was teaching for Marquette University. On Duties provides a systematic framework, which gives a brief look at natural law theory as well as Stoic virtue ethics.
Since then, I also converted each of the videos into Sadler’s Lectures podcast episodes, improving the sound and editing out filler words or pauses. So I have available resources in both formats covering every significant idea, distinction, or argument in book 1 of the work
These may be of use to others who would like to study one classic work of Stoic ethics. Cicero himself was not a Stoic, but he drew heavily upon Stoic philosophy, and this book is a reworking and addition to an earlier work by Panaetius, the sixth leader of the Stoic school. Here are the 22 videos and 22 podcast episode, arranged into sections by content, starting with the introductory material. Hopefully they will help viewers better understand the key ideas as they work their way through the first book of Cicero's On Duties.
Introductory Matters
General Issues Concerning Duty | watch video | listen to podcast
Nature and Reason | watch video | listen to podcast
The Four Sources of the Right | watch video | listen to podcast
Four Sources Of Duty
Wisdom as the First Source of Duty | watch video | listen to podcast
Justice as the Second Source of Duty | watch video | listen to podcast
Courage as the Third Source of Duty | watch video | listen to podcast
Temperance as the Fourth Source of Duty | watch video | listen to podcast
The Virtue of Justice
Committing Justice Though Inaction | watch video | listen to podcast
Whether All Promises Should Be Kept | watch video | listen to podcast
Just Limits On Revenge And Punishment | watch video | listen to podcast
Justice Towards Enemies In War | watch video | listen to podcast
Beneficence and Justice | watch video | listen to podcast
Guidelines for Benevolence | watch video | listen to podcast
Beneficence and Degrees of Relationship | watch video | listen to podcast
The Virtue of Courage
Courage, Fear and Other Emotions | watch video | listen to podcast
Courage, Private Life, and Public Life | watch video | listen to podcast
Faction, Elections, and Social Breakdown | watch video | listen to podcast
The Virtue of Temperance
Temperance in Behavior and Actions | watch video | listen to podcast
Temperance in Speech and Conversation | watch video | listen to podcast
Temperance in House Building and Furnishing | watch video | listen to podcast
Two Other Key Topics
The Four Characters or Roles | watch video | listen to podcast
Whether Justice Has Priority Over Other Virtues | watch video | listen to podcast
Later on down the line, I hope to get back to On Duties and produce similar resources for books 2 and 3. Until then, I hope you enjoy these and find them useful for studying this important work of Stoic virtue ethics!