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Progymnasmata

Classical rhetorical exercises in the ancient tradition.

status: In Progress

Status Indicator

The status indicator reflects the current state of the work: - Abandoned: Work that has been discontinued - Notes: Initial collections of thoughts and references - Draft: Early structured version with a central thesis - In Progress: Well-developed work actively being refined - Finished: Completed work with no planned major changes This helps readers understand the maturity and completeness of the content.

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certainty: likely

Confidence Rating

The confidence tag expresses how well-supported the content is, or how likely its overall ideas are right. This uses a scale from "impossible" to "certain", based on the Kesselman List of Estimative Words: 1. "certain" 2. "highly likely" 3. "likely" 4. "possible" 5. "unlikely" 6. "highly unlikely" 7. "remote" 8. "impossible" Even ideas that seem unlikely may be worth exploring if their potential impact is significant enough.

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importance: 6/10

Importance Rating

The importance rating distinguishes between trivial topics and those which might change your life. Using a scale from 0-10, content is ranked based on its potential impact on: - the reader - the intended audience - the world at large For example, topics about fundamental research or transformative technologies would rank 9-10, while personal reflections or minor experiments might rank 0-1.

Against Betrayal of Public Trust2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

commonplace speech denouncing the violation of public trust by those in positions of authority.

ethicsprogymnasmatainvective
Against Willful Ignorance2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A vituperation condemning the deliberate rejection of knowledge and evidence.

progymnasmatainvectiveignorance
Against the Claim That Wealth Brings Happiness2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A refutation of the common belief that accumulating wealth leads to greater happiness.

progymnasmatarefutationwealth
Galileo Addresses the Inquisition2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

An impersonation of Galileo Galilei defending his scientific work before the Roman Inquisition.

progymnasmataethopoeiagalileo
In Defense of Liberal Arts Education2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A confirmation of the enduring value of liberal arts education in the age of ai

educationdefenseprogymnasmata
In Praise of Public Libraries2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

An encomium celebrating the vital role of public libraries in democratic societies.

progymnasmataencomiumlibraries
On Socrates' Wisdom2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A chreia exploring Socrates' famous statement about knowing nothing.

progymnasmataencomiumsocrates
On Whether One Should Marry2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A thesis examining the question of whether marriage is beneficial for human flourishing.

progymnasmatathesismarriage
On the Value of Patience2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

An elaboration on the maxim 'Patience is a virtue' and its applications in life.

progymnasmatathesispatience
Proposal for a Universal Basic Income2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

An introduction of a law establishing a universal basic income to address economic inequality and technological displacement.

progymnasmatalegislationeconomics
Solitude and Community2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A comparative analysis of the values and limitations of solitude and community in human flourishing.

reflectionprogymnasmatathesis
The Ancient Olive Grove at Dawn2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A vivid description of an ancient Mediterranean olive grove as the sun rises.

natureprogymnasmataekphrasis
The Ant and the Grasshopper2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A retelling of Aesop's classic fable about preparation and foresight.

moralityprogymnasmatafable
The Journey to Mount Olympus2025.04.26
status: Notes·certainty: likely·importance: 6/10

A narrative exercise describing a mythical journey to the home of the gods.

progymnasmatanarrativemythology

in Naperville, IL
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