The Roman Way Morality and Honour

Republican Morality Unlike later Christians, Romans did not look to religion to make them “good” Morality was conditioned by respect to authority The family The state Bravery and honour to Rome and family were pivotal Stories of Consuls who killed their sons for dishonoring Rome were upheld as exemplars. At the end of the Republican Period, some Patricians began to lament the loss of old values. Patricians like Cato the Elder saw the softening of values due to Rome’s success. The acquisition of territory was creating wealth and promoting leisure Cato lived simply, laboured on his land and resented the adoption of Greek values.

The Greek Influence By the time Caesar Augustus took power, many wealthy Romans had adopted Greek values and lifestyles. He preached against this to no avail Going Greek was more fun Over time wealthy Roman and even the emperor adopted Eastern ideas of sovereignty and privilege  Emperors are declared gods and are elevated above reproach - Caesar and Augustus after their death  Romans explored Persian, Egyptian religions  Christians later unify segments of society against this aspect.

Stoicism Was a belief system inherited from the Greeks. The Romans upheld it as an ideal code of behaviour Basic Ideas Man is irrational or emotional by nature To be of virtue (character trait or quality valued as being good), one has to use logic and reason to eliminate emotions from your decisions. Is often regarded as meaning cold or indifferent In Roman society it meant that one accepted what they could change and what they could not. Allowed for self determination while still existed in a world of “fate” "Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one's desires, but by the removal of desire." (Epictetus) "Where is the good? In the will. Where is the evil? In the will. Where is neither of them? In those things which are independent of the will." (Epictetus) Became a kind of code in which wealthy Romans tried to exemplify The father who kills his son: is an example where reason and logic are applied over emotion. "The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live." (Seneca the Younger)