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Argumentação Retórica no Comentário de Fílon de Alexandria ao Pentateuco

1985; University of Lisbon; Volume: 13; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1484/j.euphr.5.126726

2736-3082

Manuel Alexandre Júnior,

Biblical Studies and Interpretation

The way Philo structures his commentary, argues his theses, develops his themes, or performs the apology of his people and spiritual heritage, reflects the foundational importance of rhetorical argumentation as a privileged technique of exegesis and exposition, and the philosophical character of his argumentation. It thus becomes clear that the writings of Philo are highly inspired in their form and function by the rhetorical theory of argumentation - a techne that permeates all his treatises but that specifically functions in his commentary as a code of interpretation, structure and persuasive communication. The images, figures and arguments he uses are usually shaped and designed to fit in the entire body of each argumentative unit or set of units, in order to assure its coherence, to illumine the deeper truth of its thesis and to render psycagogically possible the reader's adherence. In the universe of his discourse each line of argumentation is organized around a capital statement which not only brings its micro-arguments together, but also gives them a sense of convergent and teleological direction.