Abstract

Following upon ( = Secundum) Cicero's next to last work Of Offices, this three-part series presents what Cicero would have lauded: a justification of the Roman ideal of voluntary service, under obligation. The office, at once moral and useful within the same functionality, becomes a composite inviting metaphysical, ethical, esthetic, legal and cultural considerations. This last paper focuses on the legal and cultural aspects of the office. Secular and clerical formulations are developed in the context of both normative and non-normative types of cultism. After defending the concept of normative cultism as legitimate and positive, discussions of legalism and estheticism provide a heuristic context in which to 'grow' the office throughout history in its two primary culture types. A final section treats of relativism, determinism and humanism, "-ism's" that further apply normative cultism to the theory and practice of the office.