Cicero's philosophical works are now exciting renewed interest and more generous appreciation, in part because he provides vital evidence of the views of the (largely lost) Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic age, and partly because of the light he casts on the intellectual life of first-century Rome. Hellenistic philosophy has in recent years atrracted growing interest from academic philosophers in Europe and North America. The Nature of the Gods is a document of central significance in this area, for it presents (...) a detailed account of the theologies of the Epicureans and of the Stoics, together with the critical objections to these doctrines raised by the Academic school. hen these Greek theories of deity are translated into the Roman context, a fascinating clash of ideologies results. (shrink)

Cicero's The Nature of the Gods discusses the doctrines of the main philosophical schools of his day concerning the gods. Do they exist? If so, can we demonstrate that they exist? The views of the Epicurean and Stoic schools are presented and then criticized by the spokesman of the Academics. The problems raised have a perennial importance to thinking people of every age.