Cicero's Social and Political Thought

Neal Wood is Professor of Political Science at York University. His most recent books are The Politics of Locke's Philosophy (California, 1983) and John Locke and Agrarian Capitalism (California, 1984).

• Preface Note on the Sources I. Introduction: Cicero's Significance II. Ciceronian Society 1. The Changing Social Structure 2. Some Characteristics of Roman Government 3. The Late Republican Time of Troubles III. Cicero's Life and Works 1. Biographical Milestones and Intellectual Influences 2. Philosophy as Solace and Guide 3. Principal Social and Political Writings IV. Law, Justice, and Human Nature 1. Natural Law and Natural Justice 2. Conception of Man V. Moral Equality and Social Inequality 1. The Socially Superior and Inferior 2. Vulgar and Gentlemanly Callings 3. The Model Gentleman VI. Private Property and Its Accumulation1. The Finances and Properties of Cicero2. An Enlightened Economic Individualism3. Town versus Country VII. The Idea of the State1. Dedication to the State and Politics 2. Definition of the State 3. Purpose of the State 4. State, Government, and Society VIII. Types of State1. The Three Simple Constitutions 2. Forms of Tyranny IX. Essentials of the Mixed Constitution1. The Doctrine prior to Cicero 2. The Roman Mixture 3. Institutions of the Ideal Mixture X. The Art of Politics1. Nature of Politics 2. Violence as a Political Instrument 3. Major Ends of Statecraft 4. Rudiments of Economic Policy XI. ConclusionNotesSelect BibliographyIndex