For the album by progressive rock band Porcupine Tree , see Metanoia (album).

Metanoia (from the Greek μετάνοιεν, metanoien, to change one's mind) is a rhetorical device used to retract a statement just made, and then state it in a better way.Silva Rhetoricae (2006). Metanoeia It is similar to correctio.

Correctio

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Metanoia is used in recalling a statement in two ways—-to weaken the prior declaration or to strengthen it.

Weakening

The use of metanoia to weaken a statement is effective because the original statement still stands, along with the qualifying statement.VirtualSalt.com (2006). A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices For instance, when one says, "I shall murder you. You will be punished," the force of the original statement ("I shall murder you") remains, while a more realistic alternative has been put forward ("you will be punished").

Strengthening

When it is used to strengthen a statement, metanoia works to ease the reader from a moderate statement to a more radical one, as in this quote from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations

I still fall short of it through my own fault, and through not observing the admonitions of the gods, and, I may almost say, their direct instructions (Book One);The Internet Classics Archive (2006). The Meditations

Here Aurelius utilizes metanoia to move from a mild idea ("not observing the admonitions of the gods") to a more intense one ("not observing... their direct instructions"). He uses the clause "I may almost say" to introduce the metanoia.

Biblical references

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From Greek μετάνοια, compounded from the preposition μετά (after, with) and the verb νοέω (to perceive, to think, the result of perceiving or observing).

Metanoia simply means a "Change of Mind." To be saved by Jesus Christ, one must first change their mind as what they deem is correct and willing to choose to trust in Christ for salvation. In english the closest word to "Metanoia" is "repent." However, the word "repent" has many inaccuracies. The word repent implies a "turning away from sin" or a form of penance. This is an incorrect interpertation of biblical doctrine. One must first change their mind(metanoia), accept Jesus Christ as savior, then choose to change their life through the power of God. Considering Jesus Christ died for all sin, how could one think they could turn from sin without first accepting Jesus Christ?

References

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Narratology | Rhetoric