Wednesday Wisdom

WHO?

Cato the Younger, also known as Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, was a prominent Roman statesman and Stoic philosopher, born in 95 BC in the republic of Rome. Cato was born into a plebeian family with a notable lineage; his great-grandfather, Cato the Elder, was also a significant figure in Roman history. Cato the elder was an outspoken critic of the Roman Senates corruption, graft and dysfunction. He was a staunch opponent of Carthage which he believed was a threat to Rome’s democracy and independence. Cato the elder would close his Senate speeches with “Cathago delenda est”-Carthage must die.

Cato the younger was deeply influenced by his great-grandfather as well as by Stoic philosophy, which emphasized virtue, self-control, and rationality. Cato Uticensis was profoundly influenced by the godfather of Stoicism, Zeno of Citium who founded the school of thought in Athens 200 hundred years earlier. Stoicism emphasizes virtue, wisdom and self-control while advocating for living in harmony with nature and reason.

What he produced

Cato's the younger was most famously known for his opposition to Julius Caesar and the defense of Rome’s republic. He perceived Caesar's accumulation of power and his populist tactics as a direct threat to the Republic. During Caesar's consulship in 59 BC, Cato vigorously opposed his policies, often through procedural obstruction and public oration. Cato's political career was influence by his great- grandfather and was marked by his strict adherence to republican principles, civic duties and his relentless fight against corruption and autocracy. He began his public service as a military tribune in Macedonia and later served as quaestor, a financial officer, in 65 BC. His tenure was noted for its honesty and efficiency, contrasting sharply with the prevalent corruption of the Republic’s senators. Cato played a crucial role in the events following the Catiline Conspiracy, a plot to overthrow the Roman government. He advocated for the execution of the conspirators without trial, siding with Cicero against more lenient measures.

The senate and the Roman republic were in a weakened state after the the Catiline Conspiracy. Three prominent men and soldiers Caeser, Crassus and Pompey known as the “First Triumvirate” united together to gain more power. Cato sided with Pompey and the senatorial faction, leading to civil war against Caeser. After their defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, Cato continued to resist Caesar's forces. His final stand was in Utica, where, after realizing that further resistance was futile and refusing a pardon from Julius Caesar, he committed suicide in 46 BC to avoid living under Caesar's rule. His death was seen as a final act of defiance and a symbol of his commitment to republican values.

2024 why do we care?

Stoics advocate for contributing to the common good and engaging in public service. Cato viewed his political career as a duty to the state and its citizens. He often took stands that were unpopular but aligned with his Stoic beliefs in justice and espoused ethics for the greater good of the Republic.

Julius Caesar's actions, particularly his accumulation of power and undermining of republican institutions, played a pivotal role in the demise of the Roman Republic. His military conquests, crossing of the Rubicon with his army, civil war, and eventual dictatorship set the stage for the end of republican governance. While the Republic's collapse was the result of various factors and long-standing issues, Caesar’s role was undeniably significant in this historical transformation and why the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon” is synonymous with decisions with that can’t be reversed. The corruption of the Roman senate set the stage and loss of confidence in the Roman institutions which led to a constitutional crisis and the end of the Republic.

In his Farewell Address, Washington warned against the dangers of political parties and sectionalism, advocating for a spirit of national unity and a commitment to the common good over personal or sectional interests. Jefferson believed that an educated citizenry was crucial for the health of the republic. He argued that leaders should be well-informed and guided by reason and knowledge. Benjamin Franklin spoke about the virtues of public officials in his writings. In a letter to Samuel Mather, he noted: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. "Franklin believed that the virtue of the people, including their leaders, was fundamental to maintaining liberty and effective governance. James Madison, the fourth President and "Father of the Constitution”, highlighted the need for virtuous leaders in his writings. In The Federalist No. 57, he argued: "The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers’ men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust."

So how does corruption become widely accepted and institutionalized? Legalize it and wrap it with a bounty of money. In 2010 the Supreme court under Judge Scalia, who wrote the deciding opinion, passed the law “Citizens United”. Shortly after K street, the renowned center of advocacy and lobbying groups in Washington, now armed with piles of cash from corporations put out a sign, “open for business”. People recycled their careers from congress to lobbyism, armed with cash to influence legislation. While this legislation is being written, these same legislators are able to place bets on the stock prices of the companies being affected. On Wall Street this called insider trading and is a criminal offense punishable with fines and jail. In Washington were politicians right their own rules, it’s a side hustle. While it’s not illegal, it certainly pushes the boundaries of ethics.

As Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers, we should seek leaders who pursue virtue. Ben Franklin was a student of the Roman Republic and Cato and was fluent in Latin. At the end of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a woman stopped Franklin in the street and asked him what kind of government the delegates had created. Franklins’ response should make every American take heed, “A republic, if you can keep it”.

And now you know...

Thanks, Dad, for the gift of curiosity!

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, and science.

METAPHYSICS: Literally, the term metaphysics means ‘beyond the physical.’ Typically, this is the branch that most people think of when they picture philosophy. In metaphysics, the goal is to answer the what and how questions in life. Who are we, and what are time and space?

LOGIC: The study of reasoning. Much like metaphysics, understanding logic helps to understand and appreciate how we perceive the rest of our world. More than that, it provides a foundation for which to build and interpret arguments and analyses.

ETHICS: The study of morality, right and wrong, good and evil. Ethics tackles difficult conversations by adding weight to actions and decisions. Politics takes ethics to a larger scale, applying it to a group (or groups) of people. Political philosophers study political governments, laws, justice, authority, rights, liberty, ethics, and much more.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EPISTEMOLOGY: This is the study and understanding of knowledge. The main question is how do we know? We can question the limitations of logic, how comprehension works, and the ability (or perception) to be certain.