De Natura Deorum

De Natura Deorum (On the Nature of the Gods) is a philosophical dialogue by Roman orator Cicero written in 45 BC. It is laid out in three books, each of which discuss the theology of different Roman and Greek philosophers. The dialogue uses a discussion of Stoic, Epicurean, and skeptical theories to examine fundamental questions of theology.

Description

The dialogue is on the whole narrated by Cicero himself, though he does not play an active part in the discussion. Gaius Velleius represents the Epicurean school, Quintus Lucilius Balbus argues for the Stoics, and Gaius Cotta speaks for Cicero's own Academic skepticism. The first book of the dialogue contains Cicero's introduction, Velleius' case for the Epicurean theology and Cotta's criticism of Epicureanism. Book II focuses on Balbus' explanation and defense of Stoic theology. Book III lays out Cotta's criticism of Balbus' claims. Cicero's conclusions are ambivalent and muted, "a strategy of civilized openness;"^[1] he does, however, conclude that Balbus' claims, in his mind, more nearly approximate the truth (3.95).

This work, although not written by an orthodox Epicurean or Stoic, is important because it supplements the scant primary texts that remain from Epicureans or Stoics discussing their views on religion and theology. In particular, heated scholarly debate has focussed on this text's discussion at 1.43-44 of how the Epicurean gods may be said to "exist;" David Sedley, for example, holds that Epicureans, as represented in this text and elsewhere, think that "gods are our own graphic idealization of the life to which we aspire,"^[2] whereas David Konstan maintains that “the Epicurean gods are real, in the sense that they exist as atomic compounds and possess the properties that pertain to the concept, or prolēpsis, that people have of them."^[3]

This work, alongside De Officiis and De Divinatione was highly influential on the philosophes of the 18th century; Voltaire called it "perhaps the best book of all antiquity".^[4]

Quotes

• There is in fact no subject upon which so much difference of opinion exists, not only among the unlearned but also among educated men; and the views entertained are so various and so discrepant, that, while it is no doubt a possible alternative that none of them is true, it is certainly impossible that more than one should be so. (Res enim nulla est, de qua tantopere non solum indocti, sed etiam docti dissentiant; quorum opiniones cum tam variae sint tamque inter se dissidentes, alterum fieri profecto potest, ut earum nulla, alterum certe non potest, ut plus una vera sit) (I, 5)
• We, on the contrary, make blessedness of life depend upon an untroubled mind, and exemption from all duties. (We think a happy life consists in tranquility of mind). (Nos autem beatam vitam in animi securitate et in omnium vacatione munerum ponimus) (I, 53)
• For time destroys the fictions of error and opinion, while it confirms the determinations of nature and of truth. (Opinionis enim commenta delet dies, naturae iudicia confirmat) (II, 2)
• Because all the sick do not recover, therefore medicine is not an art. (Ne aegri quidem quia non omnes convalescunt, idcirco ars nulla medicina est) (II, 12)
• Things perfected by nature are better than those finished by art. (Meliora sunt ea quae natura quam illa quae arte perfecta sunt) (II, 87)
• Just as it is better to use no wine whatever in the treatment of the sick, because it is rarely beneficial and very often injurious, than to rush upon evident calamity in the hope of an uncertain recovery, so, I incline to think, it would have been better for the human race that that swift movement of thought, that keenness and shrewdness which we call reason, since it is destructive to many and profitable to very few, should not have been given at all, than that it should have been given so freely and abundantly. (Ut vinum aegrotis, quia prodest raro, nocet saepissime, melius est non adhibere omnino quam spe dubiae salutis in apertam perniciem incurrere, sic haud scio, an melius fuerit humano generi motum istum celerem cogitationis, acumen, sollertiam, quam rationem vocamus, quoniam pestifera sit multis, admodum paucis salutaris, non dari omnino quam tam munifice et tam large dari.) (III, 69)
• There never was a great man unless through divine inspiration.^[5] (Nemo igitur vir magnus sine aliquo adflatu divino umquam fuit) (II, 167)

Text

• De natura deorum, libri tres (vol. 1) (Cambridge, Univ. Press 1880–1885)
• De natura deorum, libri tres (vol. 2) (Cambridge, Univ. Press 1880–1885)
• De natura deorum, libri tres (vol. 3) (Cambridge, Univ. Press 1880–1885)

Latin text

• M. TVLLI CICERONIS DE NATVRA DEORVM AD M. BRVTVM LIBER PRIMVS
• M. TVLLI CICERONIS DE NATVRA DEORVM AD M. BRVTVM LIBER SECVNDVS
• M. TVLLI CICERONIS DE NATVRA DEORVM AD M. BRVTVM LIBER TERTIVS

Translations

• De Natura Deorum; Academica, with an English translation by H. Rackham (1933)
• On the Nature of the Gods, English translation by Francis Brooks
• On the Nature of the Gods, Public Domain Audio Book Translated by Charles Duke Yonge (1894)

References

1. Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, 2011:69ff.
2. David Sedley, Epicurus’ Theological Innatism.” In Fish and Saunders 2011: 29-52., 2011:29.
3. David Konstan, Epicurus on the Gods.” In Fish and Saunders 2011: 53-71., 2011:53.
4. Peter Gay, The Enlightenment - The Rise of Modern Paganism, W.W. Norton & Company, 1995, p. 109.
5. Ballou, Maturin Murray (1871). Treasury of thought. Forming an encyclopædia of quotations from ancient and modern authors. Boston: J.R. Osgood and Co. p. 216.

External links

•  Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article: De natura deorum
• On the Nature of the Gods public domain audiobook at LibriVox