According to ancient philosophers, all human beings want to be happy. But how can we achieve this? In Books 3 and 4 of his dialogue “On the Greatest Good and Evil” (De finibus bonorum et malorum), Cicero and his interlocutor, the Stoic Cato, discuss what guarantees a person’s supreme happiness. Is it enough to be a morally good person (as the Stoics maintain) or do you also need some additional goods, such a health, wealth, or social standing? This ultimately raises the question of whether our happiness is entirely under our control, or whether external factors by necessity play a role.

On September 24th, 2024, Morningside hosted Professor Katharina Volk of Columbia University for this discussion on Cicero and the grounds for happiness.

For more information about upcoming events, please visit https://www.morningsideinstitute.org.