Cicero's translation of Greek Philosophy: Personal mission or public service?

Abstract

Cicero's achievement of producing a stream of philosophical works in the last few years of his life is as remarkable as it is unusual. This activity constituted a heady mix of linguistic skill, intellectual ambition and an attempt at self-healing after his political and personal life had been hit by disaster. Cicero's important role in the transformation of Greek philosophy into Latin is well-known, but the linguistic and cultural aspects of his translation activities have not received a lot of attention. This paper explores the ways in which Cicero attempted to transpose Greek philosophical thought into the Latin language (latine reddere) and examines how his personal circumstances prompted this flood of translation in his final years.