Cassius Dio, human nature and the late Roman Republic
This thesis builds on recent scholarship on Dioâs Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ model to argue that Dioâs view of the fall of the Republic can be explained in terms of his interest in the relationship between human nature and political constitution. Chapter One examines Dioâs thinking on Classical debates surrounding the issue of Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ and is dedicated to a detailed discussion of the terms that are important to Dioâs understanding of Republican political life. The second chapter examines the relationship between Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ and Roman theories of moral decline in the late Republic. Chapter Three examines the influence of Thucydides on Dio. Chapter Four examines Dioâs reliance on Classical theories of democracy and monarchy. These four chapters, grouped into two sections, show how he explains the downfall of the Republic in the face of human ambition. Section Three will be the first of two case studies, exploring the life of Cicero, one of the main protagonists in Dioâs history of the late Republic. In Chapter Five, I examine Dioâs account of Ciceroâs career up to the civil war between Pompey and Caesar. Chapter Six explores Ciceroâs role in politics in the immediate aftermath of Caesarâs death, first
Rees, William J.
Intellectual History ; Classical Greek ; Latin ; Hellenic (Classical Greek) literature ; Ancient philosophy ; History of other areas ; Cassius Dio ; Roman Republic ; Roman History
Cassius Dio, human nature and the late Roman Republic. This thesis builds on recent scholarship on Dioâs Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ model to argue that Dioâs view of the fall of the Republic can be explained in terms of his interest in the relationship between human nature and political constitution. Chapter One examines Dioâs thinking on Classical debates surrounding the issue of Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ and is dedicated to a detailed discussion of the terms that are important to Dioâs understanding of Republican political life. The second chapter examines the relationship between Ïáœ"ÏÎčÏ and Roman theories of moral decline in the late Republic. Chapter Three examines the influence of Thucydides on Dio. Chapter Four examines Dioâs reliance on Classical theories of democracy and monarchy. These four chapters, grouped into two sections, show how he explains the downfall of the Republic in the face of human ambition. Section Three will be the first of two case studies, exploring the life of Cicero, one of the main protagonists in Dioâs history of the late Republic. In Chapter Five, I examine Dioâs account of Ciceroâs career up to the civil war between Pompey and Caesar. Chapter Six explores Ciceroâs role in politics in the immediate aftermath of Caesarâs death, first
human_nature late roman_republic build recent_scholarship model argue view fall republic explain_term interest relationship human_nature political constitution examine think classical debate_surround issue dedicate detailed_discussion term important republican political_life second_examines relationship roman theories moral decline late_republic three_examines influence thucydides four_examine reliance classical theory democracy monarchy group two_section show explain downfall republic face human ambition section_three first_two case_study explore life cicero one_main protagonist history late_republic examine account cicero career civil_war caesar explore cicero role politics immediate_aftermath caesar death first