academica of cicero. - 912 Freedom Library

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contrasts the Latin historians with the Greek [233] . He depreciates the later Greek rhetorical
teaching, while he bestows high commendation on the early sophists [234] . The systematic rhetoric
of Aristotle and Theophrastus is most to his mind [235] . An account is given by him of the history
of Greek speculation in Italy [236] . The undefiled purity of his Latin style made him seem to many
the only speaker of the language [237] . He had written a history of his own deeds, in the style of
Xenophon, which Cicero had imitated [238] , and was well known as a wit and writer of
epigrams [239] .
Although so much is said of his general culture, it is only from the Academica that we learn
definitely his philosophical opinions. In the De Oratore, when he speaks of the visit of
Carneades to Rome [240] , he does not declare himself a follower of that philosopher, nor does
Crassus, in his long speech about Greek philosophy, connect Catulus with any particular teacher.
The only Greek especially mentioned as a friend of his, is the poet Antipater of Sidon [241] . Still it
might have been concluded that he was an adherent either of the Academic or Peripatetic
Schools. Cicero repeatedly asserts that from no other schools can the orator spring, and the whole
tone of the De Oratore shows that Catulus could have had no leaning towards the Stoics or
Epicureans [242] . The probability is that he had never placed himself under the instruction of
Greek teachers for any length of time, but had rather gained his information from books and
especially from the writings of Clitomachus. If he had ever been in actual communication with
any of the prominent Academics, Cicero would not have failed to tell us, as he does in the case
of Antonius [243] , and Crassus [244] . It is scarcely possible that any direct intercourse between
Philo and Catulus can have taken place, although one passage in the Lucullus seems to imply
it [245] . Still Philo had a brilliant reputation during the later years of Catulus, and no one at all
conversant with Greek literature or society could fail to be well acquainted with his
opinions [246] . No follower of Carneades and Clitomachus, such as Catulus undoubtedly was [247] ,
could view with indifference the latest development of Academic doctrine. The famous books of
Philo were probably not known to Catulus [248] .
I now proceed to draw out from the references in the Lucullus the chief features of the speech of
Catulus the younger. It was probably introduced by a mention of Philo's books [249] . Some
considerable portion of the speech must have been directed against the innovations made by
Philo upon the genuine Carneadean doctrine. These the elder Catulus had repudiated with great
warmth, even charging Philo with wilful misrepresentation of the older Academics [250] . The most
important part of the speech, however, must have consisted of a defence of Carneades and
Arcesilas against the dogmatic schools [251] . Catulus evidently concerned himself more with the
system of the later than with that of the earlier sceptic. It is also exceedingly probable that he
touched only very lightly on the negative Academic arguments, while he developed fully that
positive teaching about the p??a??? which was so distinctive of Carneades. All the counter
arguments of Lucullus which concern the destructive side of Academic teaching appear to be
distinctly aimed at Cicero, who must have represented it in the discourse of the day before [252] .
On the other hand, those parts of Lucullus' speech which deal with the constructive part of
Academicism [253] seem to be intended for Catulus, to whom the maintenance of the genuine
Carneadean distinction between ad??a and a?ata??pta would be a peculiarly congenial task.
Thus the commendation bestowed by Lucullus on the way in which the probabile had been
handled appertains to Catulus. The exposition of the sceptical criticism would naturally be
reserved for the most brilliant and incisive orator of the party—Cicero himself. These conjectures
have the advantage of establishing an intimate connection between the prooemium, the speech of
Catulus, and the succeeding one of Hortensius. In the prooemium the innovations of Philo were
mentioned; Catulus then showed that the only object aimed at by them, a satisfactory basis for
ep?st?µ?, was already attained by the Carneadean theory of the p??a???; whereupon Hortensius
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