On the Good Life Chapter Summary & Analysis | Introduction

Introduction Summary and Analysis

The introduction, written by Michael Grant, introduces Cicero and Cicero's writings, along with his historical influences and an account of his influence on later figures. Cicero was an individualist, who believed in human rights and the freedom to make decision without interference. He believed that every human had a spark of divinity that made them equal to one another and caused the natural law to apply to them all. Cicero is not dogmatic, and resists dogmatism in others. Cicero believed in divine providence and that the most divine thing within us is reason. We are intimately bound to our fellow humans by our common divine spark and humans cannot find peace except by serving humankind. Cicero wrote during the late sixties, fifties and forties B.C. within the late Roman republic, before Caesar took power. When Caesar took over, Cicero retired to the country. He took refuge in writing, after a...
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