Tusculan Disputations and On the Nature of the Gods

Introduction

In 45 BC Cicero's beloved daughter Tullia died, and in his grief he withdrew to his villa at Tusculum and sought consolation in writing philosophy. The five books of the Tusculan Disputations ask in turn whether death is an evil, how to bear pain, how to relieve grief, how to be free of the other passions, and whether virtue is enough for happiness. On the Nature of the Gods lets spokesmen of the Epicureans, the Stoics and the Academy each set out their views of the divine; it is the most important document of ancient philosophy of religion and deeply influenced Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.