180079 SE Ciceros Academica (2023W)

Cicero's Academica is a work of high philosophical significance, as it contains invaluable evidence about the debate between Stoic epistemology and academic scepticism, which was dominant in Plato's Academy since Arcesilaus (315-240 BCE). Cicero is not a neutral reporter but he writes as a partisan of academic scepticism, who is interested though in the strength of the arguments of each side. Cicero's work is important evidence also for understanding developments within Plato's Academy, such as the modification of academic scepticism at the time of Cicero and the emergence of a new dogmatism with Antiochus of Ascalon. Cicero published the Academica in two versions: in the first version his work comprised 2 books, and we possess the 2nd book, the Lucullus, while in the second version the work comprised 4 books, and we have the 1st book. That is, the work as we have it, is the first book of the second edition (Academicus Primus) and the second book of the first edition (Lucullus). We will study the work in the new critical edition of Tobias Reinhardt (OCT) and we will also use his also recently published extensive commentary (see bibliography below). Tobias Reinhardt will give lecture in Vienna about his editorial work on the Academica in January 2024.