Why does a traditional major in great books have two foreign languages, including Greek or Latin, and a philosophical emphasis?
The Western intellectual tradition was shaped by Plato and Aristotle who wrote in Greek. Some of the Catholic great books programs emphasize the church fathers and Aquinas, and for that reason recommend Latin. To appreciate any of the ancient or medieval portion of the curriculum, some knowledge of the original languages is desirable.
Related Questions
- Why does a traditional major in great books have two foreign languages, including Greek or Latin, and a philosophical emphasis?
- Who usually enrolls in Summer Program in the Ancient Languages courses in the Department of Greek and Latin?
- Speaking of foreign language … can I substitute Latin for one of the modern languages in the IB?
