"If we wish, says Cicero, "to consider the origin of this thing that is called eloquence—whether it be an art or a study or some sort of skill or a faculty bestowed by nature—we will discover that it was born from most honorable causes and continued its development for the best of reasons. For there was a time when people wandered in the fields far and wide, like beasts, and preserved their existence relying on uncultivated food; no rational system of religion or of societal obligation was yet practiced; no one had witnessed legitimate marriage, nor had anyone looked upon children whom he knew for certain to be his own, nor had they realized what advantages an equitable code of law might provide. So, because of their own error and ignorance, a blind and reckless passion controlled them, and, in order to satisfy itself, continually misused bodily strength, the most dangerous of servants.
At this point in time, a man—great and wise to be sure—came to recognize the innate potential and the boundless opportunity for great accomplishments residing in the human spirit, if only someone could draw it out and improve it through instruction. He systematically assembled the people in one place; scattered in the fields and living hidden in their woodland shelters, he brought them together, introducing them to every useful and honorable pursuit. At first, because of the novelty of the thing, they strongly objected; but then, as they began to listen more earnestly, he transformed them through reason and speech from wild, savage creatures into tame and gentle people."
Certainly, we could draw an analogy to the Roman Religion that dawned on the earth when its Ruler came down from heaven. Men were in darkness, preserving their existence on uncultivated, or at least insufficient, theologies and philosophies. Filled with error or lacking necessary truths their societies became malformed.
Casting our eyes upon our post-Catholic age we see a 'civilization' with many deformities. From erroneous precepts cities have cropped up that drain the soul's sap. Urban design that tends to overvalue money creates landscapes of cheap cookie-cutter housing, trendy restaurants catering more to novelty than good taste, and shopping centers without spirit—a lifeless mass.
Men today, as those men of old Cicero describes, wander "far and wide". An important element, fertile soil from which identity flourished, the extended family, has become scattered. The mass takes it's place. And In the lifeless mass are lifeless men.
But why? No rational system of religion or societal obligation is truly binding men today. Let us grant that a kind of pseudo-religion based on pragmatic and legally binding mutual agreements that maximize money and mere emotional well-being.
Further, we have a pseudo societal obligation that obliges a tolerance that dissolves the conscience. A mushy tolerance that blind's the soul's eye to True Religion's possibility.
Cicero mentions the absense of legitimate marriage in a barbaric state. Well, today without Religion there is no legitimate marriage. Without legitimate marriage the bonds of blood dissolve. Are we at the threshold where the divorced and remarried (illegitimate marriages) have formed such chimeras of families that off spring of blood are regarded the same if not less than those not of blood. Could we even call these families proper?
"So," says Cicero, "because of their own error and ignorance, a blind and reckless passion controlled them..." Is not the passion for career as we have came to know a fitting instance? Men will forgo the foundations of civil society, True Religion and legitimate marriage, to exclusively embrace profession. Such a course is, indeed, reckless and blind.
To be continued....
Source: How to Win an Argument by Cicero
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