My Renaissance By Alejandra Paulson

De Officiis by Cicero brought insight to the minds of many on the purpose of everyday
life and the significant functionality of it. Cicero edified the roles of a sagacious person and the
consequentiality of upholding the law. It is equally as important to understand that not everyone
plays a just game, or contributes to society without concealing the truth. From this reading, I
have gained the mentality of individual responsibility and the knowledge to investigate before
participating in economic activity. We as individuals make our own decisions; we are also the
sole responsible party for those decisions and the consequences of them. I have a personal desire
to keep everyones best interest in mind and to always strive to do what is ethical.

Cicero inscribed on the narrative of Gyges, the account of a man who ambled into a
crevasse in the land that had been opened before him. He investigated the unknown expanse and
descried a ring that held a perplexing and incomprehensible force within. Gyges then pilfered
and utilized the ring to his advantage, to thieve and obtain an incrementing amount of power, all
while remaining undiscovered to the public eye. Cicero writes, Now, suppose a wise man had
just such a ring, he would not imagine that he was free to do wrong any more than if he did not
have it; for good men aim to secure not secrecy but the right. Cicero is expressing that to be
sapient beings the populous must be honest and just contrary to being a thieving and plundering
community. A man that is undoubtedly sensible and moral would not presume to only do that
which is considered indictable or unethical. As an individual Cicero has inquired that we
examine whenever the world provides advantages and opportunity to stop and ask oneself, Can I
move forward with this advantage without being erroneous? I must incessantly contemplate the
morals of my choices and the ramifications that follow.

If, throughout ones existence, a man does not act justly towards their fellow men be it
acquaintances or unknown people, they happen to be directly contributing to the malfeasance in
the commonwealth. The everlasting personal disputation is, if I as a person can veil my actions
from the gods? Many think amidst a line of imprudence, and believe there is a God who will
examine their lives and judge them in their waning hours, that will choose to send them to either
a heaven, (a place of eternal opulence and unbothered existence) or a hell (a place of eternal
suffering and anguish). This generalization is what encumbers mans ability to contemplate if
their decisions are moral. Believers will behave depending on how they anticipate their actions
throughout life will be judged, which can lead to a skewed opinion that is solely based on a
biased thought. Cicero elucidated on this concept as he further elaborated that men would choose
to be immoral if they could escape all blame and consequence. If impunity were assured, they
would do what was most to their selfish interest, that would be a confession that they are
criminally minded (Cicero).

Cicero is not telling his readers that they must act as if God were visually examining
them, in fact, society should not be making just decisions based on a God telling them how to
exist. He is suggesting his audience should be making decisions based on what is morally correct
as it will benefit the society not just the individual. To be a wise person is to logically think how
an individual decision may impact society and not dwell on the godly benefits that are
scientifically proven to not be there. Too often does one encounter that it is more, expedient for
him to reign alone than to share the throne with another (Cicero). I often fail to recollect
 the consequentiality in social advancement and seek personal gain. It is unwise to seek earnings
through deception, as that results in a person becoming morally corrupt and hinders society as
well as the individual. Cicero expresses that a person is not required to sacrifice their leisure
activities for others as advancement requires the needs of a person being met. It is his duty to
put forth all his strength and strive with all his might to win; but he ought never with the foot to
trip, or with his hand to foul a competitor. Thus, in the stadium of life, it is not unfair for anyone
to seek to obtain what is needful for his own advantage, but he has no right to wrest it from his
neighbor (Cicero).

In society, we must achieve as individuals and as a populous, the ability to recognize our
potential for greatness. When someone brings friendship and loyalties into the matter at hand,
ambiguous areas will develop and the justice that drives passion could become distorted. There
should be no exception to civil or moral obligation as it could cause many different quandaries to
the person on an individual basis. Cicero writes that it is a breach of duty when a person does not
follow common sense for a friend or neighbor as that which is wrong applies to every
perspective, legally and morally. To be a sagacious person is to uphold ones rights and
obligations as a citizen, this strengthens the individuals moral compass and can in turn, be a
positive proponent to society.

Cicero advises that upholding the law in all capacities is vitally important. Personal
matters can affect judgment, but one should never let personal sentiments or interactions
interfere from being an adherence with the laws and regulations. But an upright man will never
for a friends sake do anything in violation of his countrys interests or his oath or his sacred
honor, not even if he sits as judge in a friends case; for he lays aside the role of friend when he
assumes that of judge (Cicero). Whether a person is their colleagues judge or discovers
themselves upon the unmoral advantage to swindle through life, one must act in a manner that
complies with the law and benefits everyone. My moral responsibility is to be veracious, just,
and uphold the law in every circumstance and situation I encounter throughout my life.

A person who is truly wise would never be debating in contentious situations whether to
act justly or to accept a partial view on the point of interest. It takes much social understanding to
comprehend how individual contributions and choices can affect the community. Cicero never
literally states I should give my neighbor my possessions, Cicero asks that we be conscious of
the populous and the best interest of everyone by being fair and lawful in the market.

When dealing with a market it falls on the individual once again to exercise economic
activity lawfully. According to Antipater all the facts should be disclosed, that the buyer may
not be uninformed of any detail that the seller knows (Cicero). If service were to be provided by
myself, it would be erroneous, though propitious, for me to understand my product is damaged
and not disclose it to the consumer. Often when merchandise becomes damaged, price will
depreciate which sanctions for a diminutive profit to still be salvaged. The consumers are
generally very adept at identifying quality issues and if it is related to a sudden modification in
pricing. This, however, may not be damaging to the odds of consummating a remuneratively
lucrative sale. Typically, malfunctions that are disclosed allow for bargaining and price
negotiation, usually ending in sales.
 Cicero wants everyone to be ethical, lawful, just, and kind to their neighbor, but it is
unwise to give everyone the welfare of the incertitude. One should never pursue to fault their
neighbor, but apprehend that they cannot expect a reciprocated feeling or action. Many in society
are only out to seek for their own gain, and will be sly or shifty to reach their goals. With this
stated, it is essential that I endeavor to be honest and moral in my everyday life: while ensuring
that I fathom the importance of personal accountability.

It is highly unusual to have a person that is forced into the purchase of a product, but
rather it is a personal choice to buy. Acquiring of goods is often an opportunity for a contented
life and many times a luxury. It is exceptionally opportune to have access to the purchase of
premanufactured commodities in the modern world, as to when assessed to an earlier generation
when everything was manufactured and drafted though manual labor. It is also convenient and
quite mundane for a dissatisfied consumer to instantly put the blame on the seller rather than
themselves. When a product doesnt meet the purchasers liking, they authoritatively mandate a
restitution, they compose a negative review, and find many reasons to repine. Dissatisfaction
with product is often able to be discovered with a little more independent investigation before the
point of purchase, consequently eschewing an unsatisfactory buying experience.

Not every seller is reputable, not every neighbor is honest, not every judge is fair. It is an
individuals responsibility to analyze and investigate before proceeding in social or economic
activity. There will never be a refund for poor personal decisional tendencies and the requisite
complications that follow. To educate on ones choices rather to act on impulse will benefit not
only the individual but the entire society. The fault cannot be placed on the vendor as the buyer
did not research discounts in the area and ended up paying for something at a higher price than
what the seller next door would have charged. The individuals are at fault for not taking the
personal initiative to research thoroughly and diligently. Again, it is unwise to think that
everyone will consider the best interest of society because most will only consider what is best
for themselves. One should act as they know their neighbor will not and should accept that the
concealment of the truth will be a quotidian and conventional encounter for most people.

With Ciceros edifications and suggestions, it would be wise to commence with the
realization of self-responsibility. I have been shown the consequentiality of starting this process
and given numerous reasons as to why it is important. I believe that it is of value to continue my
steps in life without deceiving my neighbors and without swindling from those I do not know for
self-gain. There is only individual gain in thieving (theoretically speaking) which is not as
ambitious as society achieving a greater status. It is better to give up a sale opportunity for
multiple people to benefit rather than to benefit just oneself as more opportunities will reveal
themselves in the continual or even immediate future. There is wisdom in keeping the greater
good in mind and having the awareness and insight to be able to recognize unethical dealings. I
thank Cicero for providing me a foundation to live my life with purpose and a just soul, and will
continue to seek ways to follow his teachings.