In rhetoric, protrepsis (Greek: πρότρεψις) and paraenesis (παραίνεσις) are two closely related styles of exhortation that are employed by moral philosophers. While there is a widely accepted distinction between the two that is employed by modern writers, classical philosophers did not make a clear distinction between the two, and even used them interchangeably. Clement of Alexandria differentiated between protrepsis and paraenesis in his Paedagogus. Other writers, however, both before and after him, conflated the two. Pseudo-Justins protrepsis is entitled a Paraenetic Address to the Greeks and Magnus Felix Ennodius Paraenesis didascalia is actually in the style of protrepsis. The modern distinction between the two ideas, as generally used in modern scholarship, is explained by Stanley Stowers thus: In this discussion I will use protreptic in reference to hortatory literature that calls the audience to a new and different way of life, and paraenesis for advice and exhortation to continue in a certain way of life. The terms however were used this way only sometimes and not consistently in antiquity. —Stanley Stowers, Letter Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity In other words, the distinction often employed by modern writers is that protrepsis is conversion literature, where a philosopher aims to convert outsiders to following a particular philosophical path, whereas paraenesis is aimed at those who already follow that path, giving them advice on how best to follow it. This is not a universally-held distinction. Swancutt, observing Stowers recognition that the two ideas were not formally distinguished in this way by classical philosophers, argues, for example, that the modern distinction is a false dichotomy that originated with Paul Hartlichs De Exhortationum a Graecis Romanisque scriptarum historia et indole, published in 1889. Classical writers perspectives differed from the modern view. For example: Malherbes explanation of Epictetus view of protrepsis (as set out in the third of his Discourses) is: […] protrepsis is the philosophers proper mode of exhortation. Together with refutation and reproof, which exposes the human condition […], and teaching, protrepsis does not make an oratorical display but reveals the inner inconsistency in the philosophers hearers and brings them to conversion. —Abraham J. Malherbe, Moral Exhortation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proverbs 3 Blessed is He who Finds Wisdom 17Her Ways are pleasant Ways And all Her Paths are Peace 18She is a Tree of Life to those who take hold of Her,happy are all who hold Her fast 19YHVH by Wisdom founded the earth,By Understanding He established the Heavens Revelation 2:7 Whoever has ears,let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life,which is in the Paradise of YHVH Wisdom is the Ruach haQodesh/the Holy Spirit of YHVH (7 Spirits/7Pillars) Prov.8:34 Blessed are those who listen to Me,watching daily at My Doors(gates),waiting at My Doorway https://youtube/watch?v=BNHXPB9cTV4
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 12:43:02 +0000
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