The eloquent philosopher in Philo's De uita contemplatiua

Abstract

The De uita contemplatiua has the form of an epideictic discourse. It is modelled as a narrative composition, integrating in the rhetorical situation sequential articulations of narrative and chreia elaboration. Far from being a mere piece of fiction, it is a consistent description of a community of committed philosophers who apply themselves to learn with the πάνσοφος Moses and jointly reflect on the actual truth; a truth whose meaning is hermeneutically disclosed and rhetorically mediated for instruction, inspiration and spiritual nutrition in the wisdom of God. The therapeutae fully embraced the life of contemplation as a typical class of eloquent philosophers who were committed to the pursuit of truth and wisdom and to the verbal explanation of that philosophical truth. This narrative description of facts and virtues is persuasively complemented with proofs, not only supporting the veracity of the facts being narrated, but also displaying the rhetorical dimension of the narrative. Actions give shape to the epideictic discourse praising the therapeutae, and generate a set of complete situations as contexts for complete arguments. As it pictures the figure of the orator-philosopher, the encomium on De uita contemplatiua may also have had a paraenetic intention; not only encouraging his people to pursue God's friendship and true excellence of life, but also showing them the way to “the very summit and perfection of happiness”.