Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh turn to Cicero’s On Friendship, a dialogue exploring what makes friendship possible, lasting, and good. They unpack Cicero’s conviction that friendship is only possible between those committed to virtue, and that true friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts—second only to wisdom. The hosts trace Cicero’s Roman context, his defense of republican ideals, and his enduring insights into the moral foundations of friendship.

Episode Outline 

• Opening quote from Cicero on the harmony of virtue in friendship
• Why Cicero remains a beloved figure in Western history
• Cicero’s role as statesman, writer, and defender of the Roman Republic
• Background on On Friendship as a dialogue between Laelius and Scipio
• Cicero’s definition of virtue as “ordinary excellence” rather than lofty ideals
• The claim that friendship can only exist among the good—what Cicero means by “the good”
• The distinction between acquaintances, comradeship, and true friendship
• Cicero’s famous images of friendship: “a second self” and “remove friendship from life and you remove the sun from the world”
• Reflections on Cicero’s legacy in light of the later Christian revolution of values
• Closing reflections on the timelessness of Cicero’s insights

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Virtue as the Ground of Friendship: Cicero insists that friendship requires moral integrity: honesty, courage, liberality, and freedom from greed, lust, or violence.
• Friendship vs. Acquaintance: Cicero distinguishes between true friendships based on virtue and other social bonds based on utility, association, or convenience.
• The Sweetness of Conversation: For Cicero, the “fruit of friendship” lies in the joy of conversation and the freedom to speak openly without bitterness.
• A Second Self: A true friend is like “a second self,” sharing life so deeply that one’s strength, wealth, and even life are experienced in common.
• Lasting Significance: Though Cicero’s republican world collapsed, his insights into virtue and friendship remain profound and enduring.

Questions & Discussion

• Why does Cicero argue that friendship is only possible among the good?
  Reflect on whether you agree. Discuss whether people lacking in moral integrity still form real friendships, or only temporary alliances.
• How does Cicero’s idea of virtue as “ordinary excellence” shape his vision of friendship?
  Consider whether friendship requires lofty ideals or simply consistent, everyday integrity.
• What is the difference between comradeship, acquaintanceship, and true friendship?
  Think of your own relationships and discuss which category each falls into. Discuss if this distinction changes how you use the word “friend”.
• What do you make of Cicero’s claim that “remove friendship from life and you remove the sun from the world”?
  Discuss whether friendship really is as essential as Cicero claims. Describe what life looks like without it.
• How should we value Cicero’s insights in light of Christianity’s later revolution in values?
  Explore whether Cicero’s pre-Christian view of friendship still holds truth for us, or whether Christianity’s vision of love changes the foundation of friendship.

Suggested Reading

• On Friendship by Cicero
• On Duties by Cicero
• The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   
• Christianity and Classical Culture by Charles Norris Cochrane 
• Dominion by Tom Holland 
• The Bible, Proverbs 18:24
• The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Sophus Helle