Periautologia e antirrhesis nell'Oratio 62 F. di Libanio, Contra irrisores

Libanius' Oration 62 against the critics of the educational system he promoted is a personal and professional apology. Libanius was accused of an inability to direct his students towards a successful career in the higher professions of imperial administration. His opponents admitted that Libanius was a good orator, but criticized him as a poor teacher. In this speech, he attempts to counter this criticism by returning to the techniques of demonstratio / refutatio and to a strong vituperatio of his critics. He proves their allegations false by citing specific examples of societal success by his former pupils in professing oratory. His Hellenic education was based on the conception of rhetoric as the performance of public and social service. This oration allows one to understand the perception of the value of rhetoric in Late Antique society. [Publisher's text]