ACROAMATICI, a denomination given to the dis-
ciples or followers of Aristotle, &c. who were admitted
into the secrets of the inner or acroamic philosophy.
ACROATIC is a name given to Aristotle's lectures to
his disciples, which were of two kinds, exoteric and acro-
tic. The acroatic were those to which only his own dis-
ciples and intimate friends were admitted; whereas the
exoteric were public and open to all. But there are other
differences. The acroatic were set apart for the higher
and more abstruse subjects; the exoteric were employed
in rhetorical and civil speculations. Again, the acroatics
were more subtle and exact, evidence and demonstration
being here aimed at; the exoterics chiefly aimed at the
probable and plausible. The former were the subject of
the morning exercises in the Lyceum, the latter of the
evening. Besides, the exoterics were published, where-
as the acroatics were kept secret, being either entirely
concealed, or, if they were published, it was in such ob-
scure terms that few but his own disciples could be the
wiser for them. Hence, when Alexander complained of
his preceptor for publishing his acroatics, and thus reveal-
ing what should have been reserved to his disciples, Ari-
stotle answered, that they were made public and not pub-
lic; for that none who had not heard them explained by
the author vice voce could understand them.