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Cicero's View On Piracy

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The general opinion on piracy after the Greeks was one of hatred and scorn, stemming from the condemnation from the Roman philosopher Cicero in 44 BCE. It wasn't until the 17th century when a Dutchman named Hugo Grotius came to the defense of piratical activity. Although their arguments are in opposition, both of these thinkers center their arguments around one's duty to their country as a reason for and against piracy. Cicero was one of the most famous Roman philosophers who wrote and spoke extensively on the duties of citizens. The idea of the country and one's duties to it are central to Cicero's major work, On Duties. This idea permeates throughout this work and Cicero states that “of all associations none is closer, none dearer, than …show more content…
Hugo Grotius was a brilliant lawyer who is known as one of the greatest Dutch thinkers. His great intelligence at an young age shocked and inspired many, including the King of France. As a burgeoning new lawyer, was hired by the Dutch East India Company in 1604 to defend the actions of Captain Jakob van Heemskerck. At this time, the Netherlands were not the only ones expanding into East Indies; the Portuguese had a monopoly there after the Treaty of Tordesillas. The Portuguese were proving to be an obstacle in Dutch trade, harassing ports that had agreed to trade with the Dutch. So, when Heemskerck saw a Portuguese vessel in the straits of Singapore, he attacked and claimed the ship as his prize. Although this seemed like a blatant act of piracy, Grotius defended the captain in an expansive defense called the Commentary on the Law of Prize and Booty. He justifies Heemskerck's actions by arguing that the Portuguese were in fact more piratical because they continually violated international commerce laws. He also introduces the idea of just war as a justification for the attack. He argues that the wealth of the Portuguese is the equivalent to a weapon in war and it was Heemskerck's duty to capture his ship. Grotius' most convincing arguments are based upon the idea that Heemskerck did his duty to his country. By attacking the Portuguese vessel, he ended the harassment from the Portuguese

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