On the Nature of the Gods: Cicero and the Philosophical Approaches to God

In 45 B.C., the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero embarked on an almost impossible task... He wrote a philosophical dialogue trying to understand the gods, their nature, how they interact with the world of human beings... and indeed, if they care about humans at all!
On the Nature of the Gods (De Natura Deorum) tries to answer these eternal questions through the ancient philosophical approaches of Epicureanism, Stoicism and Skepticism. While Cicero is present in all the dialogues, he does not participate... instead three speakers represent the three differing perspectives and help illuminate his thoughts.
Containing profound psychological and moral insights, this seminal text - recently translated by George J. Thomas (with the pen name Quintus Curtius) - is a compelling testament to the necessity of human agency in an indifferent universe.
But what do these approaches say... and what can they teach us today?
Famed translator George J. Thomas and Professor of Classics at Cornell University, Michael Fontaine, discuss the Nature of Gods and how ancient philosophy can help us understand the divine.
You can enjoy George's new annotated translation here: qcurtius.com/books/on-the-nat...
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[@happycats685]

George Thomas makes good translations.
Thank you for doing this. I think the Epicurean Velleius' arguments in De Natura Deorum are really the best in the book!

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Concur!

[@MattCrotts]

great dialogue

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

[@beedeebee13]

Before I watch, I have to say I am not the biggest fan of Cicero or the Roman Senate. I prefer the Greek conceptualization of a Collective Nous, or Psyche, that birthed Logos and Ethos as the particular Hule of the Human Species. This 'collective nous' is what Occidental Nations came to refer to as God. Having a deep understanding of the hule of man gives one the ability to throw hex, motion (a curveball), into the Logos of the Human Psyche, and therein the Human Nous. -A Cheshire Cat

[@ClassicalWisdom]

What did you think after watching it??

[@beedeebee13]

@@ClassicalWisdom I was exceedingly surprised in a Good Way. It went straight to that point at the get go, really good stuff.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Oh! That's exactly what I wanted to hear! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it....@@beedeebee13