About the political thinker cicero

Hellow friend today we will read about the political thinker cicero.

Introduction.
Cicero was a lawyer, statesman40 and orator41. He was one
of the outstanding Roman political philosophers. He was not an
original political thinker. However, his concepts were accepted
widely. He interpreted the Greek philosophy in a new way. He
was instrumental in spreading Stoic ideas of Universal
brotherhood. His style of writing was very good. That made him
very famous. He studied Philosophy in Athens. Athens was the
best place to learn Philosophy. Cicero studied Law in Rome.Rome was the best place to learn Law. Cicero studied Plato and Aristotle also. His
Latin books were very famous. ‘De Republica’ and ‘The Laws’ were his famous
works. Interestingly, these titles were borrowed from Plato.

Cicero lived a 100 years after Polybius. The political situations in Rome
were not good. Chaos and confusions prevailed in Rome. The system of Checks
and balances were not working properly. There were civil wars in the state.
Dictatorships were coming up. Julius Caesar was an example. Imperialism was
growing. Polybius was not in favor of the changes. He was a supporter of the old
system. He thought that old institutions should be preserved.
Influence on Cicero= The greatest influence on Cicero was Polybius. He
supported the concept of mixed form of constitution. Cicero also classified
governments into normal and perverted forms. He classified Monarchy,
Aristocracy and Democracy as normal forms. Tyranny, Oligarchy and military
forms were the perverted forms. According to him, a mixed form is the best form
of government. According to Cicero, only the mixed form of government can check
abuse of power. It only can check the tendency of degeneration.
Cicero was influenced by Plato’s Republic also. He was very much
influenced by the concept of Justice. The stoic ideas of law of nature also
influenced him. He tried to spread the stoic ideas of universal brotherhood and
world citizenship. His ideal view was of a world city and a Roman Empire. He
believed in the natural equality of man and the natural law. His emphasis on
the Stoic idea of natural law was well received. The universal law of nature binds
all men together. This natural law exists in all people of all the world. This is the
fundamental principle of world-citizenship. There is a fundamental equality
between man and man. All men are created by God as equals. Cicero on State: According to Cicero, the state is a product of natural
instinct of men. State is not the result of force. It is not the result of fear also.
But it came into being because of the mutual interest of the people. Objective of
the state is the welfare of the people. People obey laws because it is for their
good. It is not forced upon them. It is a kind of partnership on law. It is not an
artificial association. The following is a summary of Cicero’s ideas about the State:-
1. The individual is prior to the State. The state is not prior to the individual.
The ultimate objective of Cicero was to elevate the individual above the
State. While doing so, he emphasized that the State consists of the
individuals. The state is formed by individuals. If the State was to be
formed by the individuals, the individual should be prior to the State.
2. Society is prior to the State. Society and State are different from each other
and they are different entities. By saying so, Cicero was emphasizing the
legal personality of the State. When individuals come together for a
common life, it is only the society. It does not constitute the State. But
certain changes necessitated the formation of the State. Legally, the state is
different from the society and the individual. Therefore, The state acquires
a legal personality not available to the society.

3. Authority of state does not rely on a particular individual or a group of
individuals. It relies on the people as a whole. The people are the source of
law and authority. Cicero wanted to give emphasis on the essential equality
of men. He also wanted to negate the superiority of certain classes of
people in the State. Therefore, it was very essential to state that the
authority of the state does not rely on a particular class of people in the
State. It has to rely on the people as a whole.
4. All individuals are equal. From a very practical point of view, Cicero wanted
to strengthen the Roman state system. He wanted to protect the
cosmopolitan nature of the Roman state. Therefore, it was very essential to
adhere to a stand point that men are equal and no race or class is superior
than the other.

Commonwealth: This is a great idea by Cicero. According to Cicero,
Commonwealth consists of the entire mankind. Human race is not a race of
isolated43 individuals. It consists of human beings who are social animals.
Society is natural44 to him. The State is also natural to him. It is rational45. It is
based on reason. Reason binds men together. Law keeps them together. It is the
law based on natural law. It provides him mutual aid46 and just government47.
It is good and desirable. The people are the authority of the state. Power vests
with the people. Power does not belong to the Monarch or an elite group of
people. The power of the people is exercised on the basis of natural law.
Therefore, State is a moral48 institution
Law: According to Cicero, law is supreme. It is essential to a household, a
city, a nation, the human race, the physical nature and the universe. According
to Cicero, Law is supreme Reason. Reason is common to both God and Man. So
law has a divine49 connection. The entire universe is regulated by the power of God. Man is part of the
Universe. He is created by God. Man is the only creature with the power of
reason. He is the only creature50 with the power of thought. Law is the
expression of supreme reason or God. Law is the eternal51 principle, which
governs the universe. Law makes people to do what is right. Law prevents him
from doing what is wrong. Law is divine. Law is the mind of God. Justice means
submission to Law. Justice means submission to the will of God. Law govern the
magistrates who governs the people.
Estimate of Cicero

Cicero’s ideas became very famous because it’s revolutionary ideas. It
contained the following basic ideas: 1. That the people are the ultimate authority
of the state. The power of the state rests with the people. 2. That the power of
the state could be exercised only in accordance with law. 3. Law of the State
should be based on natural law.

Cicero was profoundly influenced by the current politics of his times. It was
a time of constant war among the elite. Therefore, Cicero was particularly
interested in the traditional constitutional element which had given Rome a
stable government and a peaceful society.
So this is all about the cicero. and thanks for reading