This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On Duties (De Officiis), which presents a largely Stoic view on ethics, virtues, relationships, and duties or moral obligations

Specifically it examines he virtue of Temperance. One main dimension of temperance or moderation is speech and conversation, and Cicero provides a number of guidelines for how temperance is displayed in our communication with others.

Some of these have to do with how one speaks with or to others, but Cicero is still more focused on the content of what one says. Some topics, in his view, ought to be avoided. He also considers how we ought to display humor or wit.

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Broadcast on:

19 Dec 2022