Cicero’s mission of transferring Greek philosophy into Latin language and the creation of Latin philosophical terminology

Marina Andrijasevic

doi:10.2298/theo2103039a

Abstract

Marcus Tullius Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest Roman statesmen and orators, however, this lucid creator?s philosophical writings lie in the shadow of his highly valued speeches, rhetorical writings and letters. He is widely regarded as a politician, lawyer, orator, yet few consider him a philosopher. This seems unjustified, having in mind that he received an outstanding philosophical education, wrote about numerous philosophical subjects, translated and explicated Greek authors and their philosophical doctrine. The goal of this paper is to show Cicero?s contribution to the transfer of Greek philosophy onto Latin soil, illuminate his role in the creation of Latin philosophical terminology, as well as reasons which motivated him to do so. Our subject will be presented from a linguoculturological aspect with the analysis of some of the terms, which Cicero imported into Latin philosophical vocabulary.

Highlights

Apstrakt: Marko Tulije Ciceron smatra se jednim od najvećih rimskih državnika i govornika, međutim, filozofska dela ovog lucidnog stvaraoca leže u senci njegovih visoko cenjenih govora, retorskih spisa i pisama
Marcus Tullius Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest Roman statesmen and orators, this lucid creator’s philosophical writings lie in the shadow of his highly valued speeches, rhetorical writings and letters. He is widely regarded as a politician, lawyer, orator, yet few consider him a philosopher
The goal of this paper is to show Cicero’s contribution to the transfer of Greek philosophy onto Latin soil, illuminate his role in the creation of Latin philosophical terminology, as well as reasons which motivated him to do so

Summary

Marina Andrijašević

CICERONOVA MISIJA PRENOŠENJA GRČKE FILOZOFIJE NA LATINSKI JEZIK I STVARANJE LATINSKE FILOZOFSKE TERMINOLOGIJE apstrakt: Marko Tulije Ciceron smatra se jednim od najvećih rimskih državnika i govornika, međutim, filozofska dela ovog lucidnog stvaraoca leže u senci njegovih visoko cenjenih govora, retorskih spisa i pisama. Na početku jednog od svojih poslednjih spisa O sudbini (De fato), Ciceron predlaže da se deo filozofije, koja se, kako kaže, obično naziva philosophia de moribus, a Grci je zovu ἦθος, nazove moralis philosophia, sve sa ciljem obogaćivanja latinskog jezika.[46] Ovaj izraz, iako jedanput predložen kao lingvističko rešenje za naziv jedne grane filozofije, zaživeo je u filozofskim spisima Kvintilijana, Seneke i njihovih savremenika.[47] U pomenutom spisu Ciceron objašnjava šta se podrazumeva pod grčkim terminom aksiom (ἀξίωμα), i u latinski jezik ovaj pojam uvodi kao enuntiatio[48], dok za grčku reč θεωρήματα (posmatranje, promatranje) predlaže percepta. Marina Andrijašević Odeljenje za klasične nauke Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu

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