Advances in the History of Rhetoric Jan 2013

The Stylistic Virtues of Clarity and Obscurity in Augustine of Hippo's <i>De doctrina christiana</i>

K. Martin Camper

Abstract

ABSTRACT In antiquity, rhetorical treatises generally identified clarity and obscurity as positive and negative qualities of style, respectively. But in the fifth century, Augustine developed a valuation such that both clarity and obscurity could potentially function as equally viable resources for persuasion. While previous rhetorical treatises acknowledged that standards of perspicuity varied with genre, Augustine's stipulations for variability are tied much more closely to the particulars of the rhetorical situation. In a bold vision of the potency of style, Augustine demonstrates how a principle like clarity can be adjusted according to the rhetorical situation.

Journal
Advances in the History of Rhetoric
Published
2013-01-01
DOI
10.1080/15362426.2013.764832
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Topics
voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Geraths (2017)
    Early Christian Rhetoric(s) <i>In Situ</i>
    Advances in the History of Rhetoric

Cites in this index (2)

  1. Hartelius (2006)
    “Of What Use is a Gold Key?” Unlocking Discourses in Rhetorical Pedagogy
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  2. King (1985)
    St. Augustine's doctrine of participation as a metaphgsic of persuasion
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
Also cites 9 works outside this index ↓
  1. Andrews (2010)
    Why Theological Hermeneutics Needs Rhetoric: Augustine's De doctrina christiana
    International Journal of Systematic Theology  ↗
  2. Chin (2008)
    Grammar and Christianity in the Late Roman World
     ↗
  3. Eden (1990)
    The Rhetorical Tradition and Augustinian Hermeneutics in De doctrina christiana
    Rhetorica  ↗
  4. Fahnestock (2011)
    Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion
     ↗
  5. Fortin (1974)
    Augustine and the Problem of Christian Rhetoric
    Augustinian Studies  ↗
  6. Harris (1989)
    Ancient Literacy
     ↗
  7. Kennedy (2010)
    A Text with Teeth: Augustine's Exegesis of Song of Songs 4:2 as Paradigm of His Hermeneutics
    Studies in Religion  ↗
  8. Milovanović-Barham (1993)
    Three Levels of Style in Augustine of Hippo and Gregory of Nazianzus
    Rhetorica  ↗
  9. Preus (1969)
    From Shadow to Promise: Old Testament Interpretation from Augustine to the Young Luther
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network →

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