Academic Therapy: Philo of Larissa and Cicero’s Project in the Tusculans

This chapter begins with a translation and re-examination of the Stobaeus text. It considers whether there is anything distinctively Academic in Philo's presentation of the analogy as mediated by Stobaeus. It argues that, if there is, what it consists of is not a Sceptical stance of any kind, but a return to a Socratic outlook on the scope and function of philosophy itself. The chapter looks afresh at the catalogue of De Divinatione 2 and proposes that Cicero's account there of his writings on philosophy betrays a view of its function that bears a significant resemblance to Philo's...

This chapter begins with a translation and re-examination of the Stobaeus text. It considers whether there is anything distinctively Academic in Philo's presentation of the analogy as mediated by Stobaeus. It argues that, if there is, what it consists of is not a Sceptical stance of any kind, but a return to a Socratic outlook on the scope and function of philosophy itself. The chapter looks afresh at the catalogue of De Divinatione 2 and proposes that Cicero's account there of his writings on philosophy betrays a view of its function that bears a significant resemblance to Philo's ‘Socratism’. For their part the Tusculans, who seem to figure as the chef d'oeuvre of the entire catalogue, present themselves in a similarly Socratic light. Some reflections on their specifically Ciceronian features, and particularly on what one might call their Academicism are presented.