Ciceronian Officium and Kantian Duty

Ciceronian Officium and Kantian Duty Andree Hahmann Michael Vazquez One of the characteristic markers advent modern moral philosophy is conceptual distinction between morality one's own happiness.1 Nowhere this innovation more visible than with concept "moral duty," which in terms often defined precisely by its opposition to prudential self-interest or happiness.2 It generally assumed that Stoics are ancient precursors decidedly concept.3 The duty, [End Page 667] something like it, plays a central role not only their account psychology human action but also prototypical conception natural law ethics.4 Yet as recent commentators have emphasized, while commonalities tantalizing, appearances misleading. are, at bottom, eudaimonists Socratic tradition for whom prudence would be incoherent.5 No historian will deny vast expanse separates Stoicism from philosophy, picture 668] remains largely obscure. has long been suspected Cicero played decisive development due his crucial translator mediator Greek philosophy. After all, responsible giving Latin dress, shaping linguistic resources Western centuries come. Scholars offered varying explanations Cicero's movement away eudaimonism: Antiochean syncretizing tendencies,6 Roman juridical cast appropriation Stoic ethics law,7 emphasis on progress performance officia nonvirtuous agents (a 669] feature middle Stoicism),8 anti-Epicurean polemics,9 some combination thereof. Most important point view history fact officia, although articulated eudaimonistic framework, eventually formed basis an ethical system principles function place limits constrain pursuit maximization happiness. Furthermore, when we arrive Kant, whose radical reconception watershed moment find direct reference he explicitly carries out separation In article, unpack story about ideas look thoroughly ways could contributed understanding duty. so doing, shed new light intellectual context within Kant worked first major contribution 670] remainder article divided into four sections. second section outline basic features καθῆκον. third examine translation notion officium. While problematized deliberated over translational decision, do adequate conclude doctrine Romanized led sort suggested. Instead, preserves core fourth section, developments meaning "duty" sixteenth eighteenth centuries, particular focus Pufendorf's reworking officium anticipate Kant's critique Garve's ethics. it καθῆκον such shapes argue did play notion's development. particular, fifth impact indirect substantial: Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten theses contained therein formulated response Christian foreshadowed predecessor Pufendorf, rejects Ciceronian...