Themistius’ Discourse 6 proclaims philantropia as the key term for the affinity between the ruler and God, and logos as the cause of the affinity of all the human beings among them and with God. Against the background of the philosophical paideia that represents Themistius’ project for the élite in Constantinople, the Discourse 6 is analysed in comparison with another rhetorical work that two centuries earlier has been devoted to the same topic: Dio of Prusa’s Olympic Discourse. The two orations share some common features, but the Discourse 6 bears the traces of Themistius’ reading of the Timaeus, as well as of his exegesis of Aristotle’s De Anima
Divine Providence and Human Logos in Themistius. Some Philosophical Sources of Discourse 6
Elisa Coda
2018-01-01
Abstract
Themistius’ Discourse 6 proclaims philantropia as the key term for the affinity between the ruler and God, and logos as the cause of the affinity of all the human beings among them and with God. Against the background of the philosophical paideia that represents Themistius’ project for the élite in Constantinople, the Discourse 6 is analysed in comparison with another rhetorical work that two centuries earlier has been devoted to the same topic: Dio of Prusa’s Olympic Discourse. The two orations share some common features, but the Discourse 6 bears the traces of Themistius’ reading of the Timaeus, as well as of his exegesis of Aristotle’s De AnimaI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
