A Commentary on Cicero, de natura deorum II
First English commentary on Cicero’s examination of the gods in over fifty years
Description
Distinguished Latinist Andrew R. Dyck presents the first English commentary on Cicero’s de natura deorum II in over fifty years. This text is the only connected exposition of Stoic theology to survive from the ancient world. It includes an argument for the existence of the gods from the construction of the cosmos taken up by later thinkers, as well as an exposition of the world-order and divine providence according to Stoic doctrine. After a period in which Cicero’s philosophical works were treated mainly as sources for reconstructing the thought of earlier philosophers, they are now coming to be appreciated as intelligent and skillful works in their own right. This book will assist students and others studying Cicero’s de natura deorum II by providing its historical context, improved Latin text, and a detailed commentary with references to the latest literature on the subject.
Andrew R. Dyck is Professor Emeritus of Classics at University of California Los Angeles. He is the author of A Commentary on Cicero, De Legibus, A Commentary on Cicero, De Officiis, and A Commentary on Cicero, De Divinatione II.
Reviews
“Dyck provides a judicious blend of religious, philosophical, and linguistic material, helpfully illuminating the structure and various arguments of the second book of Cicero’s de natura deorum. His commentary is well suited for use for teaching at the graduate level and for scholars working on de natura deorum.”
- Caroline Bishop, Texas Tech University