Ethics and the Orator: The Ciceronian Tradition of Political Morality“Succeeds admirably in showing how the study of Cicero’s political thought . . . can still be relevant for modern debates in political philosophy.” —Political Theory For thousands of years, critics have attacked rhetoric and the actual practice of politics as unprincipled, insincere, and manipulative. In Ethics and the Orator, Gary A. Remer disagrees, offering the Ciceronian rhetorical tradition as a rejoinder. Remer’s study is distinct from other works on political morality in that it turns to Cicero, not Aristotle, as the progenitor of an ethical rhetorical perspective. Ethics and the Orator demonstrates how Cicero presents his ideal orator as exemplary not only in his ability to persuade, but in his capacity as an ethical person. Remer makes a compelling case that Ciceronian values—balancing the moral and the useful, prudential reasoning, and decorum—are not particular only to the philosopher himself, but are distinctive of a broader Ciceronian rhetorical tradition that runs through the history of Western political thought post-Cicero, including the writings of Quintilian, John of Salisbury, Justus Lipsius, Edmund Burke, the authors of The Federalist, and John Stuart Mill. “Gary Remer’s very fine new book could not be more familiar or more central to contemporary politics.” —Perspectives on Politics “Well illustrates ways in which Cicero was perhaps the classical political thinker most concerned with the transcendence of the common good.” —The Review of Politics |
Contents
| 1 | |
Quintilian and John of Salisbury in the Ciceronian Tradition | 26 |
The Contemporary Relevance of Cicero visāvis Aristotle | 34 |
2 Political Morality Conventional Morality and Decorum in Cicero | 63 |
Cicero and Machiavelli | 89 |
4 Justus Lipsius Morally Acceptable Deceit and Prudence in the Ciceronian Tradition | 109 |
Cicero and the Modern Concept of Representation | 136 |
Cicero Oratory and Conversation | 167 |
Conclusion | 201 |
Notes | 211 |
| 243 | |
| 267 | |
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Ethics and the Orator: The Ciceronian Tradition of Political Morality Gary Remer Limited preview - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
actions Agathocles Antonius argues argument Aristotle Aristotle 1991 Aristotle's audience authors Benhabib Burke chapter Cicero Ciceronian tradition cited in Lipsius citizens classical conception Constitution consul context contio contrast conversation deceit decision decorum defends deliberation deliberative democrats democracy dialogue dirty hands discussion distinct duties electors emotional appeals emotional manipulation emphasis added ethical ethos Eugene Garver example Federalist Garsten Garver glory Gorgias Gutmann and Thompson honestum honorable human ideal immoral John of Salisbury justifies Kahn legibus Lipsius's Machiavelli means mixed prudence natural law norms officiis orator orator-statesman oratory pathos person persuasion philosophical phronesis Pitkin Plato Politica political community political morality political speech politicians popular practice prince principle Quintilian rational reason Rehfeld reject representation representative republican rhetoric rhetoricians role Roman Republic Senate senatus consultum ultimum speaker speaking statesman Stoic Tacitus theorists theory thinkers tion truth utile values virtų virtue Walzer Waszink Willie Horton writes