4 ms·
I liked the comparison of studying the classics in the middle ages to "Alien Studies". Very revealing metaphor!
by mdemare 19y ago
I liked the comparison of studying the classics in the middle ages to "Alien Studies". Very revealing metaphor!
- yters 19y agopg makes a point of devaluing the classics in his essays. I don't know why. Let's assume there are consistent patterns to how people work, and these patterns are consistent because people forget about them. So, the best way to learn about the patterns are by reading the classics and history. Now let's come back to the present day. People give this idea lip service, but no one really takes the classics seriously anymore. Because of metanarratives like evolution, we think progress happens automatically and that there is no intrinsic human nature. We don't realize this worldview is very recent and people thought it was a bad idea in the past. Consequently, our worldview becomes a local optimum that limits us from looking for anything else. This is called hubris in classical literature. Think Oedipus.
- yters 19y ago"the best way to learn about the patterns are by reading the classics and history" "ways" I hate it when I put time into creating a good response and a grammar mistake makes my writing look retarded.