Smiling Through the Cultural Catastrophe: Toward the Revival of Higher EducationYale University Press, 1 Eki 2008 - 286 sayfa Although the essential books of Western civilization are no longer central in our courses or in our thoughts, they retain their ability to energize us intellectually, says Jeffrey Hart in this powerful book. He now presents a guide to some of these literary works, tracing the main currents of Western culture for all who wish to understand the roots of their civilization and the basis for its achievements. Hart focuses on the productive tension between the classical and biblical strains in our civilization, between a life based on cognition and one based on faith and piety. He begins with the Iliad and Exodus, linking Achilles and Moses as Bronze Age heroic figures. Closely analysing texts and illuminating them in unexpected ways, he moves on to Socrates and Jesus, who internalized the heroic, continues with Paul and Augustine and their Christian synthesis, addresses Dante, Shakespeare's Hamlet, Moliere, and Voltaire, and concludes with the novel as represented by Crime and Punishment and The Great Gatsby. Hart maintains that the dialectical tensions suggested by this survey account for the restlessness and singular achievements of the West and that the essential books can provide the substance and energy currently missed by both students and educated readers. |
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... Christian has been central to Western civilization, and has produced the basis for both its proudest and its most deeply problematical moments.''2 As we will see later on, the strong and competing claims of Athens and Jerusalem may be ...
... Christian has been central to Western civilization, and has produced the basis for both its proudest and its most deeply problematical moments.''2 As we will see later on, the strong and competing claims of Athens and Jerusalem may be ...
Sayfa
... Christian apologists concluded that Christianity could profitably utilize pagan Greek philosophy and learning. In a momentous move, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 215–150) laid down the basic approach that others would follow. Greek ...
... Christian apologists concluded that Christianity could profitably utilize pagan Greek philosophy and learning. In a momentous move, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 215–150) laid down the basic approach that others would follow. Greek ...
Sayfa
... Christian, and a Greek speaker, embodies in his person the polarities of the dialectic. When he travels to Athens to make his case at the Areopagus, the scene in Acts is intended to remind us of Socrates before the Athenian jury ...
... Christian, and a Greek speaker, embodies in his person the polarities of the dialectic. When he travels to Athens to make his case at the Areopagus, the scene in Acts is intended to remind us of Socrates before the Athenian jury ...
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... Christ's soul.'' This new man, the Übermensch, was, as Strauss put it, ''meant to unite Jerusalem and Athens at the highest level.'' Of course the Superior Man ''at the highest level'' remains a myth. We can see distant attempts to ...
... Christ's soul.'' This new man, the Übermensch, was, as Strauss put it, ''meant to unite Jerusalem and Athens at the highest level.'' Of course the Superior Man ''at the highest level'' remains a myth. We can see distant attempts to ...
Sayfa
... Christian sense of immortality a vast improvement upon it. Yet Homer meant a great deal to him. His own great character Satan, the fallen archangel, is a descendant of Achilles. Satan is a defiant hero of the old kind, unfortunately ...
... Christian sense of immortality a vast improvement upon it. Yet Homer meant a great deal to him. His own great character Satan, the fallen archangel, is a descendant of Achilles. Satan is a defiant hero of the old kind, unfortunately ...
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Achilles actual ancient appear Athens Augustine become beginning Brunetto Latini called Canto century certainly chapter Christian civilization comes Commandment considered course culture Dante death di√erent Divine doubt Egyptian entire epic everything example existence Exodus experience fact figure first follow Gatsby Genesis give Greek Hamlet Hebrew hero heroic holiness Homer human idea important intellectual Israelites Jerusalem Jesus John killed King knowledge land later least live looked Lord magical meaning mind Moses move murder narrative never novel passage Paul perhaps philosophy pilgrim Plato play poem poet possible prince Raskolnikov reach reason reflection religious remains represents Roman scene seems seen sense Shakespeare society Socrates speak story student tell things thought tion tradition truth turned understand universe Virgil voice Voltaire Western whole writing written York