De legibus

De legibus was a philosophical work of the Roman writer Marcus Tullius Cicero ( 106-43 BC ). These were a supplement to the earlier work, De re publica.

Time of origin

The exact date of the drafting of the work is unknown. However, Cicero mentions in her alongside numerous other references to historical events, but also his position as Augur (II, 31 ), which he demonstrably held in the year 53 BC. In addition, ( BC † 52) alluded to the death of Clodius '. This period may thus serve as a terminus post quem of the drafting of the work. However, it can not have been written after the year 46 BC, what is clear from the letters of Cicero to Brutus. Suppose, therefore, that Cicero BC began in late 53 with the writing, but this ceased BC beginning of 51 ( he traveled to the province from ) and not published the work.

Form and scope

De legibus was apparently intended as a supplement to the 51 BC published De re publica. It has the form of a dialogue between Cicero, his brother Quintus and his friend Atticus in Arpinum. It is in the tradition of Plato's Politeia double work and prefectures.

Reported are three books. In the third book a fourth is announced and in a fragment Macrobius ' is quoted from a fifth. As with Plato, the dialogue has to take a whole day. According to the book V lunchtime is only achieved so probably more books were planned.

Content

In De re publica of Cicero had the best government explained, for he thought that now abzuhandeln the best laws. This should be derived from the nature of man.

In the book I inspired by the Stoa theory of natural law is presented, according to which corresponds the true law of divine reason. Since all human beings are also endowed with reason, they can, by training their minds, some have ultimately in the divine reason and live according to the true eternal law.

In Book II, this philosophical thoughts are taken up again. In particular, it is clarified that there are false laws in the world that are not considered by nature and therefore not really merit the term "law". This is followed by a religious framework law ( constitutio religionum ), which is heavily inspired by the Roman tradition.

In Book III, finally, a corresponding collection of laws of the Magistracy. The laws are each written in an ancient style and each of the two collections is followed by a commentary in which the presented laws are treated with different extensiveness. The specific legislative grab it rather the Roman tradition with some recourses to Plato than in the first book explained the theory of natural law.

In Book IV a supplement to the book III was apparently contain, possibly through the court system. The content of Book V is hard to reconstruct. However, it is likely that, as in Plato, more areas of law should be discussed.

Tradition

In ancient texts, the dialog is barely mentioned; Exceptions are Macrobius, Lactantius and Augustine. In the 5th century it was included in the corpus, from which the two Vossiani and only as handed down to posterity.

Text editions and translations

• Jonathan G. F. Powell ( Ed.): M. Tvlli Ciceronis De re PVBLICA. De legibvs. Cato maior de senectvte. Laelivs de amicitia, Oxford, 2006. (Text Critical Edition )
• Andrew R. Dyck: . A commentary on Cicero, De legibus, Ann Arbor, 2004 (comment)
• M. Tullius Cicero: De legibus / About the laws. Latin and German. Eds, trans. and explained. by Rainer Nickel, Dusseldorf ² 2002.