tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post564761765548323776..comments2023-11-30T10:43:33.130-06:00Comments on Reading Freely: The Devil Knows LatinStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-28993799930362482332015-08-24T20:24:46.245-05:002015-08-24T20:24:46.245-05:00I did! I should get a review out for it on Wednesd...I did! I should get a review out for it on Wednesday or so.<br /><br />I thought I was going to keep clear of politics a bit, but an author I've read a lot of (Joseph Ellis) has produced another bit about the American Revolution, this one on the influence of four men (Washington, Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay) on effecting a Constitutional convention that would bind autonomous states into a firmer union. There's other material to read before that, though...like finishing "The Spice Route", which was hidden behind the couch for several weeks!Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-90278888029037884832015-08-23T15:11:25.378-05:002015-08-23T15:11:25.378-05:00It is sometimes surprising how much Latin we still...It is sometimes surprising how much Latin we still use. Even at work we have mini-projects called Ad Hoc's..... Of course if you're a lawyer or a doctor you'll be using Latin on a daily basis..... [grin]<br /><br />Yes, "Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations" was my recommendation. Did you like it? Not much philosophy coming up I'm afraid. Mostly history (nothing strange there!) and politics in the pipeline... and, of course, political history!!! CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-43950925016635757282015-08-23T12:18:28.433-05:002015-08-23T12:18:28.433-05:00Speaking of Greeks, Cyberkitten, I read "Phil...Speaking of Greeks, Cyberkitten, I read "Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations" this week. A recommendation of yours, I think! <br /><br />He didn't dwell on the importance of reading the classics in their original languages too much, and I don't see them making a comeback in 'conventional' education. What he calls the sacred tongues -- Hebrew, Latin, and Greek -- will be kept alive more by seminaries than anything else, I imagine. Latin is more robust than people give it credit for...even today we like to quote it, even if it's as simple as "carpe diem".<br /><br />@ James: Do you have some particularly favorite translations? I keep meaning to read the Aenid in particular.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-44549039864346093122015-08-22T16:18:24.628-05:002015-08-22T16:18:24.628-05:00This sounds like a worthwhile defense of the Roman...This sounds like a worthwhile defense of the Roman contribution to the Western heritage. I was fortunate to have learned some Latin in High School and even more fortunate that my Latin teacher was an enthusiast for Classical Culture. Her enthusiasm inspired me then and my reading in Greek and Latin classics (in translation) has continued to enrich all my other reading. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-41351134085896020562015-08-22T15:05:20.458-05:002015-08-22T15:05:20.458-05:00Nice quote....
I broadly agree that Classical edu...Nice quote....<br /><br />I broadly agree that Classical education is a good thing - not that I had one (being poor back then). I think its very important that we know our own culture best - though we certainly shouldn't be ignorant of other cultures. I don't think we actually need to read Latin & Greek - at least not everyone. There are many fine translations of the classics in English which do me fine at least! I'm also not great with other languages... [grin] I definitely think that a fair knowledge of classical philosophy and myth is a good thing. Both explain a great deal about the world we live in today.<br /><br />I honestly don't rate my compulsory school education very highly - but then again I went through what is know as a 'Comprehensive' system which at least temporarily ousted a more stratified older system - some friends went to Grammar schools which did teach Latin. My schooling was considered to be 'good enough'. But knowing a little bit about the present education system I think I went through a sort of late golden age compared to now. CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.com