Dio

by Synesius, A. Fitzgerald (Translator)

In his speech Dio, named after Dio of Prusa and dedicated to his unborn son, Synesius presents his cultural ideal. Paideia or general education (which means: study of the arts) is a preliminary or an initiation to philosophy, comparable to the development of Dio, who was (according to Synesius) a sophist first, but later converted to philosophy (which means knowledge of the Divine). General education in itself is insufficient to become happy: the sophist and the grammarian are unhappy people until they find true understanding.

The text is offered here in the translation by A. Fitzgerald. The green four-digit numbers are page numbers of the Migne edition.

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About the author

Synesius (/sɪˈniːsiəs/; Greek: Συνέσιος; c. 373 – c. 414), a Greek bishop of Ptolemais in the Libyan Pentapolis after 410, was born of wealthy parents, who claimed descent from Spartan kings, at Balagrae (Bayda now) near Cyrene between 370 and 375.

His many-sided activity, as shown especially in his letters, and his loosely mediating position between Neoplatonism and Christianity, make him a subject of fascinating interest. His scientific interests are attested by his letter to Hypatia, in which occurs the earliest known reference to a hydrometer, and by a work on alchemy in the form of a commentary on pseudo-Democritus.

Reviews

[Lancelot Schaubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synesius in this seems to be articulating how important it is for a child — particularly one trying to learn wisdom through grammer, logic, and rhetoric — exercise their imagination in literature. Combined with Dreams, it seems highly likely that Synesius felt shamed for his interest in literature and was providing a sort of proto-Romantic defense of the use of literature in discipleship, instruction, and most importantly growth in virtue.

Recommended to anyone interested in arguing for the lasting impact of literature and imagination upon culture.