Cicero De Natura Deorum Book I

This edition of the Latin text, with accompanying commentary, of the first book of Cicero's essay, On the Nature of the Gods comprises an exposition and refutation of the theology of the Epicurean philosophical school as well as a history of ancient reflections on the gods. Prefaced to the dialogue is Cicero's general justification for writing on philosophy. In his introduction, Andrew Dyck analyzes the work in the context of Cicero's intellectual development and of ancient views of the deity.

Do the gods love you? Cicero gives deep and surprising answers in two philosophical dialogues on traditional Roman religion.

It deals with the problems of the Latin text (taking account of Michael Winterbottom's new edition), it delineates the work's structure and sometimes elusive train of thought, clarifies the underlying Greek and Latin concepts, and provides starting points for approaching the philosophical and historical problems that De Officiis raises.

"Andrew R. Dyck's full commentary on this work is the first to appear in English or any other language for over a century. Whereas previous commentaries focused primarily on grammar and textual criticism, this one, while not neglecting those areas, insightfully relates the text to the trends, political, philosophical, and religious, of Cicero's times; identifies the influences on Cicero's thinking; and analyzes the relation of this theoretical treatise to his other utterances, public and private, of the time."--BOOK JACKET.