 The greater part of Book 1 is given over to an exposition of Epicurean theology by Cicero’s spokesman Velleius, followed by a critique from the work’s representative of Academic scepticism, Cotta – Cicero also portrays a younger version of himself as holding mainly a listening brief at the discussion. Books 2 and 3 consist respectively of exposition (by Balbus) and critique (by Cotta) of Stoic theology, which, in stark contrast to the Epicurean version, has god managing the workings of the universe down to the smallest detail.