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Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin
Discussions of educational reform often involve windy talk of a "return to
the classics," yet rarely do would-be reformers go so far as to advocate a
return to education in the classical languages themselves. That is a program
that strikes even the most stalwart critics of contemporary educational
mediocrity as quixotic, and perhaps even undes...more
the classics," yet rarely do would-be reformers go so far as to advocate a
return to education in the classical languages themselves. That is a program
that strikes even the most stalwart critics of contemporary educational
mediocrity as quixotic, and perhaps even undes...more
Paperback, 290 pages
Published
September 15th 2007
by ISI Books
(first published 2002)
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Some great quotes from the book:
"The wise citizen fit to govern first himself and then - and only then - to govern others. Precisely in this way does one become free through liberal learning: first, by acquiring right habits; second, by intellectual strain, by learning to apprehend the Beautiful and the Good within the mind. And the mind then confirms what the soul has already learned."
"The purpose of education is to help us to know a good man when we see him."...more
"The wise citizen fit to govern first himself and then - and only then - to govern others. Precisely in this way does one become free through liberal learning: first, by acquiring right habits; second, by intellectual strain, by learning to apprehend the Beautiful and the Good within the mind. And the mind then confirms what the soul has already learned."
"The purpose of education is to help us to know a good man when we see him."...more
Climbing Parnassus is one of the major influences on my educational philosophy. Simmons traces classical education from its roots in Ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and on into its great decline during the 20th century. He contends that facility in the Greek and Latin have shaped minds and thought for millenia. His book is significant for arguing that it is not only the translated literature of the ancient world that is formative, but the acquisition of the languages ...more
This book was really hard for me to read through. I struggled with the authors knowledge of Classical Education and its history. But at the same time there was a part of me that wanted to know more and I feel pretty dumb for having gone through the public education system. The way our Founding Fathers of this nation were raised and learned knowledge is literally extinct nowadays. I feel that our education system has a large part to do with the struggles and issues that plague our society in thes...more
This book provides a great discussion of the benefits of basing education on Greek and Latin language learning. No doubt there are many people who will disagree with his conclusions but much of his argumentation just makes sense. The burden of proof will be on those who argue against it.
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Having been in the Hawaiian immersion education field for 15 years, this book didn't change my perspectives, rather introduced me to erudite phrases that substantiated the What and Why of my passion for Hawaiian language education, particularly as the great body of literature was the result of that 19th century intellectual ferment of Hawaiian and Haole scholars.
This is a paradigm-shifting book. I was flabbergasted by how much I really didn't understand about what true Classical Education is. Now I do understand, and although I will still continue my Neo-Classicistic methods, it will be in the light of the aims of Classical methods.
I now have the words to express what I'd been thinking all along - the tremendous difference between training and education. There are many people in our society that have degrees, but very few are truly ed...more
I now have the words to express what I'd been thinking all along - the tremendous difference between training and education. There are many people in our society that have degrees, but very few are truly ed...more
Alana
added it
Finally finished reading this book. Really interesting. Makes me feel guilty for not knowing Latin or Greek... No time to remedy that right now, but maybe someday.
Since I don't know or teach those languages, I think one of the most interesting things for me was his take on classical education. Down through the ages it has been an education for the elite, and he seemed to think that it should still be so. Those with less intelligence and drive would not be able to take the rigor o...more
Since I don't know or teach those languages, I think one of the most interesting things for me was his take on classical education. Down through the ages it has been an education for the elite, and he seemed to think that it should still be so. Those with less intelligence and drive would not be able to take the rigor o...more
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Five stars for some stuff, three for others. He gets so close to the heart, the magic that Latin and Greek make available to us, and then tromps off in another direction.
This book is an intellectual case for classical training and useless learning (to know what this denotes you must read)!
challenging
Probably the best *written* book I've read. Simmons is, in the real sense, educated. Her prose is quite intellectual, if you will. Her argument for classical education as a reflection of Greek and Latin language and culture, Roman history, and a return of the examined life (as says Socrates) is well made case, if arguable at all. Bear with me here, but I find myself with no existential anchors after reading this book lost, as if I'm adrift in an half-educated world.
This is one of the best books I read last year. The author presents a very convincing case for teaching the ancient languages. Thoroughly researched and well-written, it made me think. I highly recommend it for anyone thinking of adding Greek to their curriculum. We did and we love it!
After slogging through Latin and Greek in college, this will help you feel that it was all worth it.
However, I wouldn't count on too many converts, this book is clearly preaching to those who have already made leap to the classics.
However, I wouldn't count on too many converts, this book is clearly preaching to those who have already made leap to the classics.
I have this sitting next to my bed. Whenever I lose a bit of steam with Latin, I read a random section. It's astonishingly persuasive.
This is a reread. It takes a while because there is a lot to absorb. But it's nicely written, almost elegiac in tone.
I have no interest in learning or teaching Greek or Latin, so this might offer me some insight as to why people do...
Great book, except for the idolatry of classicism.
A great defense of classical languages and also of classical education.
A better apologist for Classicism would be hard to find.
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