6Though written almost 2,000 years ago, Cicerón's profound argumentative treatise on old age continues to provide significant insight and guidance on the ever-relevant subjects of aging and dying. Within the framework of an academic dialogue, Cicerón identifies some of the arguments that are commonly raised against old age--namely, the impediment to active pursuits, the debilitation of the body, the deprivation of most pleasures, and the vicinity of death. Then, with piercing detail, he deploys his unsurpassed oratory talents to refute them.