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Symbolic illustration of Academica in the Prokopton42.com Library

Work

Academica

Cicero

In the surviving fragments of the Academica, Cicero stages the conflict between dogmatic certainty and sceptical inquiry. He asks what criterion can identify a true impression and how action remains possible when secure knowledge is disputed.

Composition
45 BCE
Sources and precision

The range describes composition or formation of the text, distinct from the dates of the editions held.

Confidence B · strong consensus

Period
Antiquity
Languages
Latin · English · French
Extent
69 passages · 215,055 words

Before reading

What you will learn

Distinguish Academic scepticism from dogmatism, understand the problem of a criterion of truth, and trace the practical role of probability.

Short summary

In the surviving fragments of the Academica, Cicero stages the conflict between dogmatic certainty and sceptical inquiry. He asks what criterion can identify a true impression and how action remains possible when secure knowledge is disputed.

Long summary

The dialogue reconstructs changes within the Academy and confronts Hellenistic theories of knowledge. Assent, probability, and the cognitive impression become terms in a dispute that concerns conduct as much as logic.

Its fragmentary state and Cicero’s revisions prevent the work from being read as an intact treatise. Its method lets opposing positions speak before defending the freedom to examine what appears most persuasive.

Inside this work

The table of contents follows the divisions actually carried by the corpus.

Work › Division

  1. Passage 1
  2. Passage 2
  3. Passage 3
  4. Passage 4
  5. Passage 5
  6. Passage 6
  7. Passage 7
  8. Passage 8
  9. Passage 9
  10. Passage 10
  11. Passage 11
  12. Passage 12
  13. Passage 13
  14. Passage 14
  15. Passage 15
  16. Passage 16
  17. Passage 17
  18. Passage 18
  19. Passage 19
  20. Passage 20
  21. Passage 21
  22. Passage 22
  23. Passage 23
  24. Passage 24
  25. Passage 25
  26. Passage 26
  27. Passage 27
  28. Passage 28
  29. Passage 29
  30. Passage 30
  31. Passage 31
  32. Passage 32
  33. Passage 33
  34. Passage 34
  35. Passage 35
  36. Passage 36
  37. Passage 37
  38. Passage 38
  39. Passage 39
  40. Passage 40
  41. Passage 41
  42. Passage 42
  43. Passage 43
  44. Passage 44
  45. Passage 45
  46. Passage 46
  47. Passage a
  48. Passage b
  49. Passage c
  50. Passage d
  51. Passage e
  52. Passage f
  53. Passage g
  54. Passage h
  55. Passage i
  56. Passage j
  57. Passage k
  58. Passage l
  59. Passage m
  60. Passage n
  61. Passage o
  62. Passage a
  63. Passage b
  64. Passage c
  65. Passage d
  66. Passage e
  67. Passage f
  68. Passage g
  69. Passage i

Concepts covered

Historical context

The world around the text

The corpus manifests do not yet establish the precise place and circumstances of composition. The images below document the author’s world or the text’s transmission. They do not claim to show the exact scene of writing.

These are modern reconstructions. They situate a documented place, practice, or transmission and are not period documents.

Modern reconstruction of Dictating at Tusculum for Academica on Prokopton42.com
Dictating at TusculumA modern interpretation of Cicero in the documented context titled “Dictating at Tusculum”, set around 45 BCE.Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Cicero
Modern reconstruction of Material world: transport and communication, 146 BCE for Academica on Prokopton42.com
Material world: transport and communication, 146 BCERome destroys Corinth and dominates Greece politically, while Greek philosophy increasingly shapes Roman elites. The image situates Academica without claiming to show its scene of composition.
Modern reconstruction of Nearby historical landmark, 44 BCE for Academica on Prokopton42.com
Nearby historical landmark, 44 BCEJulius Caesar is assassinated. A new civil war begins instead of restoring the old Republic. The image situates Academica without claiming to show its scene of composition.

What the world looked like

Roman world, 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE

Modern reconstruction of the material world around Academica: Technology, science, and care
Technology, science, and carePaved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood. Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory. Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Academica: Travel and communication
Travel and communicationOn foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky. Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Academica: Farming and food
Farming and foodGrain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Academica: Clothing, women and men
Clothing, women and menTunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.
State of technology
Paved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood.
Science and knowledge
Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory.
Medicine and care
Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Transport
On foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky.
Agriculture and food
Grain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Communication
Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Clothing and fashion
Tunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.

Editions, translations, and provenance

The following carriers represent the text. They do not create new passage identities.

  • Latinoriginal
  • English AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11
  • French AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11
  • Frenchhistorical_translation
  • English AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11
  • Englishhistorical_translation
  • French AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11

Source manifests: cicero.academica, cicero.translation_carrier_fr_15, cicero.translation_carrier_en_09

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AcademicaCicero

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What you will learn

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