Cicero s De finibus written in 45 BC consists of three separate dialogues dealing respectively with the ethical systems of Epicureanism Stoicism and the Old Academy of Antiochus of Ascalon An encyclopaedic survey of this nature is of particular importance for its detailed account of Stoic ethics This critical edition of the text based on a fresh study and collation of the manuscripts is the first to appear for many years and the first to reflecta clear understanding of the whole manuscript tradition It will be the second in a series of editions of Cicero s philosophical works the first volume the De officiis edited by Michael Winterbottom appeared in 1994