Ideas from 'On the Nature of the Gods ('De natura deorum')' by M. Tullius Cicero [44 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'The Nature of the Gods' by Cicero (ed/tr McGregor,Horace) [Penguin 1972,0-14-044265-0]].

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2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 5. Fallacy of Composition
If the parts of the universe are subject to the law of nature, the whole universe must also be subject to it
17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 8. Dualism of Mind Critique
Why would mind mix with matter if it didn't need it?
19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric
Eloquence educates, exhorts, comforts, distracts and unites us, and raises us from savagery
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 3. Punishment / c. Deterrence of crime
We have the death penalty, but still have thousands of robbers
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 1. Nature
Some regard nature simply as an irrational force that imparts movement
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 4. Divine Contradictions
Why shouldn't the gods fear their own destruction?
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / b. Euthyphro question
I wonder whether loss of reverence for the gods would mean the end of all virtue
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / d. God decrees morality
God doesn't obey the laws of nature; they are subject to the law of God
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
It seems clear to me that we have an innate idea of the divine
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / b. Ontological Proof critique
Many primitive people know nothing of the gods
28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof
If a person cannot feel the power of God when looking at the stars, they are probably incapable of feeling
It is obvious from order that someone is in charge, as when we visit a gymnasium
If the barbarians of Britain saw a complex machine, they would be baffled, but would know it was designed
Chance is no more likely to create the world than spilling lots of letters is likely to create a famous poem
28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique
If everything with regular movement and order is divine, then recurrent illnesses must be divine
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 1. Monotheism
Either the gods are identical, or one is more beautiful than another
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity
The gods are happy, so virtuous, so rational, so must have human shape
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism
Why believe in gods if you have never seen them?
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil
The lists of good men who have suffered and bad men who have prospered are endless
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / b. Human Evil
The gods blame men for having vices, but they could have given us enough reason to avoid them