Oct 5– “University Life at Athens” by John Henry Newman (1852)
Summary: A lot of people went to university at Athens.
Commentary: After admitting that his previous chapter got away from him Newman rambles on for several pages about historical figures who went to school in Athens. He uses a lot of references and metaphors that centuries ahead of the period he's writing about to questionable effect. Beyond that, there's some fairly generic, "oh the university was so perfect" back then, assuming that ancient Greek students didn't have any interests outside of listening to rhetoric 23.5 hours a day, and the ancient philosophers so perfect. "No jealousy", everyone honorable, etc. This kind of nostalgia for a time he didn't even live in is as pathetic as it is delusionally idiotic.
No comments:
Post a Comment