The Republic and The Laws

This work contains two of Cicero’s most important political writings, “The Republic” and “The Laws”. In “The Republic”, or “On the Commonwealth”, Cicero crafts a Socratic dialogue in six books on the subject of Roman politics. Cicero discusses the history of Roman politics and its constitution, the role of justice in government, the types of constitutions, the role of education, and the ideal citizen in a republic. In “The Laws” we find another Socratic dialogue which discusses the laws and in which Cicero expounds on his theories of natural law and of harmony among the classes. Despite coming down to us in an incomplete state, these books will enlighten the modern reader as to the foundation of Cicero’s political philosophy and give insight into some of the early democratic ideals which form the foundation of western political thought. Presented here are the extant versions of these important political works in translation by C. D. Yonge.