First published 1999
Classical scholars Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath examine why Greek studies are dying in American universities. They argue that ancient Greece, despite its flaws including slavery and misogyny, created the foundation of Western democratic civilization. The Greeks developed a blueprint for ordered society that could drive political and social progress across centuries. However, classics departments now focus on narrow academic research instead of teaching and communicating these vital ideas to students and the public. Professors publish obscure papers that nobody reads while failing to convey the broader significance of Greek wisdom. Hanson and Heath propose reforms that prioritize teaching and public engagement over academic publication. They warn that without these changes, classical studies will disappear entirely, representing a form of cultural suicide for Western civilization.
Genres: classics, academic, cultural-studies, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
316 pages · Paperback · Free Press