Protreptics here refers to a literary genre which attempts to persuade the reader of the value of a subject of study and seeks to enthuse him and convince him to 'turn' to it (προτρέπειν/protrépein, 'to turn towards something'). Generally philosophy is meant, but secondarily also other subjects (see II below). The origin is the adjective προτρεπτικός/protreptikós, 'hortatory'; προτρεπτικὸς λόγος/protreptikòs lógos, 'encouraging speech', ho protreptikós, 'the…
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Görgemanns, Herwig (Heidelberg),
“Protreptics”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1011490>