De republica

About “De republica”

Cicero's De re publica provides the most complete ancient account of the mixed constitution and includes the earliest surviving narrative of early Roman history. It ends with the Dream of Scipio, a significant vision of the afterlife. The work is a Platonic dialogue set in Rome, reflecting on Roman views of Greek culture and recalling a more virtuous past. The dialogue explores the connection between political theory and practice, as well as the role of social institutions in shaping the individual. This edition offers the most detailed English commentary on the surviving parts of De re publica, explaining Cicero's philosophical arguments and their link to his portrayal of early Rome. It also clarifies the language and style of the text. The introduction presents a new interpretation of the dialogue as both a literary and political work.