THEON'S BIOGRAPHICAL THEORY





THEON the Rhetorician, in his Progymnastica (2nd half of 1st cent. A.D.) gives a scheme for preparing material for a biographical encomiastic treatment.

I. EXTERNAL EXCELLENCES OF THE SUBJECT:

  • (1) NOBLE BIRTH

  • (2) ENVIRONMENT

    (a) The native city
    (b) Fellow citizens
    (c) City's political organization
    (d) Parents and family situation

  • (3) PERSONAL ADVANTAGES:

    (a) Education
    (b) Friends
    (c) Fame
    (d) Public services
    (e) Wealth
    (f) Children
    (g) Death (happy)

II. BODILY EXCELLENCES OF THE SUBJECT:

  • (1) Health
  • (2) Strength
  • (3) Beauty
  • (4) Vitality and Capacity for deep feeling


III. SPIRITUAL & INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCES OF THE SUBJECT:

  • (1) VIRTUES:

    (a) Wisdom
    (b) Temperance
    (c) Courage
    (d) Justice
    (e) Piety
    (f) Nobility
    (g) Sense of greatness


  • (2) RESULTS OF VIRTUE:
                      (a) in terms of objectives:
                                 (1) Altruism
                                 (2) Pursuit of good, not of utility or pleasure
                                 (3) Public interest
                                 (4) Braving risks and dangers
                      (b) in terms of circumstances:
                                 (1) Timely
                                 (2) Original
                                 (3) Done alone
                                 (4) Done more than others
                                 (5) Few or no helpers
                                 (6) Maturity



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January 24, 2010 2:30 PM

John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu

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