Installation Pictures

 

         Simmons, Tracy Lee. Climbing Parnassus a New Apologia for Greek and Latin. Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ORD), 2014.

This delightful read is a strong defense and encouragement to learn Latin and Greek, especially in the younger formative years. Simmons beautifully explains why. Amongst other things, learning these two languages and reading the classic works that they are written in will form the mind in a positive, profound way.

Throughout the book, Simmons offers a critical assessment at the American educational system. He sees much that has been lost with the diversification of subject matters, lack of classical language learning, and an emphasis on vocational training. What school is not doing is teaching children how to think and think critically.

In the last chapter, Simmons briefly discusses the value of reading the classic works in translation. If one cannot learn the languages then reading in translation is a good substitute.

The edition I used is an electronic book borrowed from my library through Hoopla. Simmons quotes many authors, but the electronic version, at least, does not have foot or end notes to indicate what page or book the quote comes from. Perhaps these are in a paper edition. I will find out in a few days because I liked what I read so much that I decided to invest in the book to read it again.

While there are no foot or end notes, the bibliography is extensive. All the authors that Simmons quotes are in the bibliography.

Simmons regularly points out that the founding fathers all received some measure of a classical education. However, he focuses on Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as examplars of classical learning. Simmons writes that if you want to see how the classical mind works, read the Adams-Jefferson Letters. They have fifty years of correspondence where they shared and nurtured a strong friendship and debated a number of issues that they disagreed on. Also suggested is reading the Federalist Papers. Only a classically trained mind could have come up with the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and government that the Founding Fathers created.