Gradus dignitatis (Cic. rep. I 27, 43). Merito e metro di valutazione dell’optimus status civitatis

Starting from the review of the expression gradus dignitatis, used by Cicero in rep. I 27, 43, by means of a specific semantic-etymological investigation of the lemma dignitas and by comparing the different translations of this couple of words in the main modern languages, the paper attempts to reconstruct the position held by Cicero about the choice of magistratures within the optimus status civitatis. A position of highly meritocratic mark and in open polemic against the principle, promoted by the supporters of democratic regimes, of aequitas / aequabilitas in covering official positions, in a dialectical relationship with Plato and Aristotle. In the background of the specific debate opened by Cicero we also glimpse a thin network of references to the analysis of the constitutions and public offices among Sparta, Carthage and Rome led by Polybius in the sixth book of his Historiae.