Otium was first dropd in the comedy genre by Plautus during the mid-republic, after which it then got picked up by others, Ennius for example and grew in popularity. The homonym otium means both leisure/ forgo succession and state peace after war. Cicero understood this to be well known by most Romans, and so plays freely with the concept in his various works often distinguish the concept of work negotium with otium to stress his opinion on the subject. The leisure otium describes can be both a brief sequestrate from public duty (negotium) and the retirement of an aging statesman as part of his career; his removal from public to private life. Its less(prenominal) known use as a term moment peace after war was coined by Cicero in his Catilinarian speeches as he worked to create Concordia ordanum (Laidlaw 1968). It is a term wholly applicable to the upper classes of society who could afford such free time and there were strict ideas about what was considered a unassailable use of leisure and what wasted time to no effect.
A good example of Ciceros early opinion of otium is found in his correspondence with genus Atticus, his closest friend.
Atticus chose to stay away from capital of Italy and its political intrigues in favor of the quiet life of honestum otium in the countryside of Greece. In the letter he is rather condescending in his comparison of the two lifestyles making his out to be better. This whim that though otium could be honorable, it played second position to a fulfilling political career in Rome was held not only by Cicero but by many prominent optimates also. Cicero held a typically Roman aristocratic view of otium, if time fatigued in leisure brought benefit then it was a right pursuit, but leisure for no other purpose than joy shamed the man indulging in it. When corresponding with Atticus he states You have done wisely in...If you want to number a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com
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