Mentis acies. Vista e visualità in Apuleio filosofo

The paper examines the lexical field of sight and visuality in Apuleius’ philosophical works, demonstrating how terms and metaphors related to vision function not only as figurative elements but also as argumentative and structural devices. The first section focuses on the De Platone, where Apuleius systematically reworks a Platonic scheme – originally conceived to distinguish sensible from intelligible knowledge – applying it to a range of conceptual oppositions in the rhetorical, political, ethical, and amorous domains. The second section turns to the De mundo, highlighting how visuality operates on a rhetorical and stylistic level through the extensive use of ekphrasis, metaphor, and analogy. In both cases, visuality is not merely thematic but functions as an epistemological and literary framework that shapes both thought and textual form.