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| Easton Depp Class of 2019 |
Recently, I read On Duties (II) by Cicero. The piece details the proper way to gain a reputation as a just man and a proper citizen. Ultimately, I would recommend that everyone read the entire book, because it is relevant for today’s political environment. Cicero contrasts the teachings of Machiavelli in the The Prince, and I think it makes for a better political philosophy.
The two underlying points of Cicero's entire piece are: (1) that in whatever action an individual takes, it should always benefit the national interest, not a personal or political one; and (2) an individual should always seek to be just in any action he takes. Following this line of reasoning, Cicero explains that any individual who seeks to benefit one special interest at the expense of another is inherently unjust and is harming the national interest. He demonstrates this with examples of land redistribution and cancellation of debts by politicians. In these instances, politicians are privileging one class at the detriment of another.
Further, Cicero’s poignant point on the duty of the proper citizen to work to the interest of every class resonated with me. It is a topic I have advocated much for in modern America. Politicians and citizens alike no longer advocate for what is best for America. America has been divided between a multitude of factions, and each one is jockeying for dominance and their own success. Cicero would berate modern America for falling prey to the same curse that Rome did. Both states shifted from an interest in the whole (Rome/US) to an interest in their own faction’s prosperity (Family/Republican or Democrat). When such a breakdown occurs among the general populace, it is up to the politicians to reconcile the two, such as how Aratus the Greek did in the city of Sicyon. Unfortunately, it seems that politicians have abandoned that philosophy and instead lead the charge of factionalism.
Now, Madison would argue that the factionalism of modern America is typical, and indicative of any democratic society. To an extent, I believe that is true. Factionalism is inescapable, but coming to an agreement within factionalism is not.
Thus, Cicero’s text regarding being just and fair in negotiations stood out to me. After my international negotiations class, I am painfully aware of the importance of being just and willing to concede in a negotiation. Unfortunately this is also a duty that modern America seems to have left by the wayside. The word “compromise” is a dirty word, because neither side gets what they want. Yet it seems everyone forgets three things: first, that in a compromise, you are at least getting something, and that is better than nothing; second, that it isn’t always about what is being traded, it is also about the relationship with the person. Perhaps the Democrats lost out on the last deal, but the fact that they were willing to come to the table and agree improves the general mood and relations between parties.
Lastly, there are other types of agreements. Not every agreement between parties is a compromise, and in many cases an agreement can be mutually beneficial.
This passage of On Duties (II) demonstrated to me what America has lost, and may act as a roadmap of how to regain those lost virtues.
Easton Depp, of Ft. Thomas, Ky., is a sophomore McConnell Scholar studying political science and economics.