FORME E CONTENUTI DEI DISCORSI PLATONICI DI ELIO ARISTIDE

Abstract

SVMMARIVM – Aelii Aristidis Platonicae Orationes, laudis Platoni a rhetore tributae praeclara
exempla, rhetoricam philosophiae nihilo cedere, varia litterarum genera miscendo, demonstrant.
Aelius Aristides Platonem non solum philosophorum, sed etiam rhetorum patrimonium
esse ostendit. Studium praecipue de compositione Platonicarum Orationum, quae,
cum Platonem laudent, nonnulla tamen philosophi argumenta reprehendunt, hic mihi curae
est.

ABSTRACT – Through a dialogue with Plato, the Platonic Discourses of Aelius Aristides are a
proof of the rhetorician’s praise for the philosopher. By reusing various literary genres, they also
testify to the role of rhetoric, which is no way inferior to philosophy, despite the Platonic attack
contained in the Gorgias. In a period of debate within the Platonic tradition, Aelius Aristides,
bridging the traditional division between philosophy and rhetoric, wants to affirm that Plato
is not a jealous possession only of philosophers, who alone claim the right to comment on him.