Common use of Close reading Clause in Contracts

Close reading. A close reading of Xxxxx’x texts will achieve such an integral approach to how Xxxxx developed his ideas. The preliminary reading of Spec. I, 235–238 has produced five sub-questions that need to be answered to understand the meaning of divine forgiveness in Xxxxx’x works. These questions all involve themes on which Xxxxx reflects explicitly in his extant works. The approach of the present study will be to analyse sections from Xxxxx’x treatises in which he engages these sub-questions, to ensure we remain as close as possible to Xxxxx’x treatises themselves. Xxxxx advocates the third approach. Although I find the label ‘exegete’ not very informative, I will follow an approach like Xxxxx’x. A somewhat similar approach is followed by Xxxxxxxxxx in his introduction to Xxxxx (see Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx). 161 Xxxxxxxxxx, Introduction, pp. 9, 122. 162 See note 84. 163 Xxxxxx proposed two views that can be taken on the issue of the relation between ‘Greek’ and ‘Jewish’ elements in Xxxxx’x thought. The first view is that Xxxxx has consciously made an effort to synthesise Judaism with Greek intellectualism. This approach assumes a bipolar view regarding the relation between Judaism and Greek philosophy. The second view takes the ‘sharp differentiation between Judaism and Hellenism as a construct of modern historians rather than as part of Xxxxx’x own outlook.’ Xxxxxx made it clear that she belongs to the second class of Philonic scholars (see Xxxxxx, ‘Philo’, pp. 813 and 879, nt. 25). Xxxxx took a similar position: ‘[Xxxxx’x] Ergebnis ist eine Gedankenwelt, die wie eine Synthese aus griechischem und biblischem Gedankengut anmutet, obwohl dies von Xxxxx sicherlich nicht beabsichtigt war’ (Xxxxx, ‘Philo’, pp. 853–854). Xxxxxxx went as far as suggesting that there is ‘no hint of tension between ‘Greek’ and ‘Jewish’ values,’ (Barclay, Jews, p. 161). I agree with Xxxxxx’ position, and would not go as far as Xxxxxxx. Contrary to his view that there is no hint of tension between values in Philo, for example, Xxxxx finds it necessary to defend the custom of circumcision against ridicule (see Spec. I, 2), and he denounces the frivolity of banquets, as celebrated by Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxx, in Cont. 57–63 (see also Xxxxxxx, ‘Hidden Tensions’). the way Xxxxx himself develops his thoughts. Crucial to this analysis will be to recognise the place the relevant passages have within the context of the whole treatise. To identify the place of a passage within the whole of a treatise, each treatise will be subjected to a structural analysis. The structural analysis makes use of the way Xxxxx himself, by using textual signals, structured the argumentation of the treatise. Similarly to the rhetorical style of other ancient authors, Xxxxx used Greek keywords to, for example, highlight a conclusion or to signal that he will engage a new topic. The reconstruction of Xxxxx’x argumentation based upon these keywords is supported by developments in Philonic research regarding Xxxxx’x rhetorical abilities. These developments help to identify and appreciate how Xxxxx structured his argument.164 The approach of close reading, identifying when Xxxxx signalled conclusions or statements he thought important for his readers, differs from analysing the structure of a treatise on the basis of the perceived content of the treatise alone. The latter approach bears the risk of modern readers setting the agenda according to their own preferences, possibly overlooking what Xxxxx himself saw and marked as the key points of his discourse. A structural analysis of Xxxxx’x introduction to De Opificio Mundi (Opif. 1–12) serves as example to illustrate the benefits of this method.165 At first glance, these sections may look like a collection of somewhat disconnected statements.166 A structural analysis, however, reveals Xxxxx’x artful composition and identifies the main points Xxxxx wanted to bring forward. The first of these appears in Opif. 4, where the combination of μέν and οὖν occurs. Here, Xxxxx writes that he can only present the highlights of Xxxxx’ account of creation, because the ideas contained in that account are too numerous to be expressed in full. The second occurrence of οὖν, in Opif. 12, signals the conclusion of Xxxxx’x introduction to the treatise, with another main point he wants to highlight: the great Xxxxx has correctly apprehended that the world perceived by the senses must be created. 164 See Xxxxxx, ‘Philo’. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx writes (ibid., p. 695): ‘While [Xxxxx] is, to be sure, not the simplest of writers, Xxxxx is usually more in control of what he is doing than he is given credit for, and in fact does what he does very well’ (see also Xxxxxxxxx, ‘Argumentation’). For an example of reconstructing the structure of one of Xxxxx’x treatises based on the rhetorical techniques Xxxxx employed, see Xxxxxxxxx, ‘Texture’. 165 A full structural analysis of De Opificio Mundi is presented in Chapter 2 (see pp. 54–56). 166 In the analytical introduction to the translation of De Opificio Mundi, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx claims that in Opif. 1–20, Xxxxx wants to bring to the fore ‘two salient points’ that he attributes to Xxxxx, namely that the Creator of the world has no origin and that he cares for his creation (Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx vol. 1, p. 2). Xxxxxxxx then continues his summary of Xxxxx’x discourse with a list of somewhat disconnected statements. Before reaching that conclusion, Xxxxx has put forward two arguments why that world must indeed be created. He has placed one (in Opif. 6–9) before and one (in Opif. 12) after his main objection against the world was not created. This main objection, introduced in Opif. 10–11 with the combination of μέν and γάρ, is that if the world was not created, there would be no divine providence and therefore no sustained order in creation. Obviously Opif. 1–12 contain more than just these highlights. However, these brief structural observations show that the additional elements of this passage should be considered subsidiary arguments, put forward by Xxxxx in support of the conclusions most important to him. These structural observations allow us to discover the flow of Xxxxx’x discourse, and to distinguish between main points and side issues. This again aids us in reconstructing key elements of the overall rationale implicitly present in the way Xxxxx develops his thinking.