Book 2, Chapter 2

I have answered the detractors of philosophy as a whole in my Hortensius; and I believe that the case for the Academy has been set out with sufficient care in the four books of my Academica. Yet I am so far from objecting to writings against me that I positively welcome them. Even in Greece philosophy would never have enjoyed such honor had it not flourished through the rivalries and disagreements of the most learned men.

5 I therefore urge everyone capable of doing so to wrest the distinction of this field, too, from a Greece now in decline and bring it to our city, just as our ancestors, through their zeal and industry, brought here every other distinction worth seeking. The glory of our orators has risen from humble beginnings to its height; now, as happens naturally in almost everything, it is aging and seems likely soon to dwindle to nothing. But philosophy, at least in Latin literature, is being born in our own day. Let us help it grow, and let us allow ourselves to be challenged and refuted. That is hard for those who are pledged and, as it were, consecrated to certain fixed opinions. Their bonds oblige them to defend, for consistency’s sake, even positions they do not ordinarily approve. We follow what is probable and can go no further than what presents itself as likely to be true; we are ready both to refute without obstinacy and to be refuted without anger.

6 If these studies are brought over to our people, we shall not even need Greek libraries, with their boundless multitude of books produced by a multitude of writers. Many people say the same things, and so they have crammed everything with books. The same will happen among us if more people flock to these studies. But if we can, let us encourage those who have a liberal education and who philosophize with method and system, bringing elegance of expression to their reasoning as well.

I’ve answered the critics of philosophy as a whole in my Hortensius. And I think I’ve explained the case for the Academy carefully enough in the four books of my Academics. Still, I’m very far from objecting to people writing against me. In fact, it’s just what I want. Philosophy would never have won such respect even in Greece if debates and disagreements between highly learned people hadn’t kept it alive.

5 So I encourage everyone capable of it to take the glory of this kind of work too away from Greece, which is now losing its energy, and bring it to our city. Through their effort and hard work, our ancestors brought here every other kind of glory worth wanting. The reputation of our public speakers rose from small beginnings to its height. Now, as nature brings about in nearly everything, it’s getting old and seems likely to disappear before long. But in Latin literature, at least, philosophy is only now being born. Let’s help it grow, and let’s allow others to expose our mistakes and refute us. Some people can’t bear that. They’ve virtually pledged and dedicated themselves to a fixed set of settled opinions. That commitment ties them down: for the sake of consistency, they’re forced to defend even positions they don’t usually approve of. We follow what’s probable. We can’t go beyond what strikes us as likely to be true. So we’re ready to refute people without digging in our heels, and to be refuted without getting angry.

6 With these subjects established among Romans, even libraries of Greek books will no longer be necessary for us. Those libraries have countless volumes because there have been so many authors. Writer after writer repeats the same ideas; that’s how they’ve managed to fill everything with books. Our own writers will do the same if larger numbers take up philosophy. Still, let’s do what we can to draw in people who have a well-rounded education, argue gracefully, and pursue philosophy with a method and a plan.