Cicero, Polybius and the Stoics on Political Community: The Greek Backgrounds of Cicero’s Definition of a Res Publica in Rep. 1.39‐41

This article challenges the long-standing consensus that Cicero presents a basically Aristotelian account of political community in Rep. 1.39‐41. Based on a philosophical and philological analysis of the extant evidence, it is argued that Cicero’s account rather appears like a conscious rejection of Aristotle’s distinctive views. Both linguistically and philosophically Scipio’s account looks far more germane to Polybius’ account in Hist. 6 as well as the main tenets of Stoic political philosophy. Cicero’s original and critical adaptation of their ideas stands out for its fascinating conception of law/justice as a natural source of social cohesion and its distinctive call for political leadership as a force for both moral and material good.