Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin

by Tracy Lee Simmons

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In "Climbing Parnassus", Tracy Lee Simmons presents a defense and vindication of the formative power of Greek and Latin. He also shows how these languages have played a crucial role in the development of authentic Humanism, the foundation of the West's cultural order and America's understanding of itself as a union of citizens. Simmons's persuasive witness to the unique, now all-but-forgotten advantages of study in and of the classical languages constitutes a bracing reminder of the genuine show more aims of a truly liberal education. show less

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2 reviews
This author is an amazing writer and makes one literally want to take up the classics. I think I may be going back to college when I retire to study them. That is how inspiring this book is. This book slaps down the one size fits all education we currently are all rebelling against on one level or another and brings back the ideas that you need to have some solid information (aka knowledge) before you can successfully think abstractly about that information on a critical level, understand ethical implications and make much needed connections between disciplines. I got the distinct feeling that my entire young and middle adulthood life would have had so many more layers of meaning had I understood the roots of my language and the works I show more have come to love.

Can I live up to this author's urgings to read all the classics in their original languge of Greek when at all possible, and even the Latin works? I don't know. It won't be anytime soon. But we all need something to aspire to and to regard highly. And this author allows us that. Don't be intimidated by these ancient languages. They are not impossible. And they are our roots. You think you understand Western Civilization? Read this book and learn what you failed to consider!
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Wonderful book. Explains why we should care about Latin and Greek. Many historical examples and stories.

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin
Original publication date
2002
Epigraph
PARNASSUS (mod. Liákoura or Likeri), a mountain of Greece, 8070 ft., in the south of Phocis, rising over the town of Delphi. It had several prominent peaks, the chief known as Tithorea and Lycoreia (whence the... (show all) modern name). Parnassus was one of the most holy mountains in Greece, hallowed by the worship of Apollo, of the Muses, and of the Corycian nymphs, and by the orgies of the Bacchantes. Two projecting cliffs, named the Phaedriadae, frame the gorge in which the Castalian spring flows out, and just to the west of this, on a shelf above the ravine of the Pleistus, is the site of the Pythian shrine of Apollo and the Delpic oracle. The Corycian cave is on the plateau between Delphi and the summit.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition
Dedication
To Scot Hicks

Il miglior umanista

οὐ πόλλʹ ἀλλὰ πολύ
First words
Anyone setting out to defend what Albert Jay Nock once called "the grand old fortifying classical curriculum" — essentially Greek and Latin — does so knowing that he fies the tattered flag of a lost cause.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It bids us, as Pope once inscribed, "to trace the Muses upward to their spring."
Blurbers
Barzun, Jacques; Hart, Jeffrey
Original language
English

Classifications

Genre
Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
373.24Society, Government, and CultureEducationSecondary educationDay schools; Boarding schools
LCC
LC1011 .S53EducationSpecial aspects of educationSpecial aspects of educationTypes of educationHumanistic education. Liberal education
BISAC

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462
Popularity
65,691
Reviews
2
Rating
½ (4.52)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
5
ASINs
2