Observations On The Study Of The Latin And Greek Languages

Author : George Long
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781330791363
Total Pages : 126 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (913 download)

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Download or read book Observations on the Study of the Latin and Greek Languages written by George Long and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-06 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Observations on the Study of the Latin and Greek Languages: An Introductory Lecture Delivered in the University of London, November 1, 1830 Before I explain our plan of instruction, it will be useful to make a few remarks on the reasons for giving to Latin and Greek so prominent a place in public education. Some of the best reasons will be found, I trust, in a judicious mode of teaching these languages; but there are general considerations which ought not to be passed over- We might urge in defence of what is commonly termed a classical education, - long established usage, the authority of the most distinguished seats of learning, and the opinions or the prejudices of a large and wealthy class of our people. On the other hand, we must not overlook the fact that, both in this country and elsewhere, the study of Latin and Greek is by some condemned as useless, or at least regarded as much less useful than other pursuits. To treat with contempt the arguments of the objectors is not the best way to convince them; nor are we likely to remedy the striking defects of English education by displaying its merits, without pointing out its faults. I hardly know if any answer is due to those who condemn ancient learning in terms of abuse, calling it useless lumber, and qualifying it with other uncourteous names. Such persons are ignorant of that which they decry: they neither know what kind of knowledge it contains, nor have they considered the kind of mental training which is requisite to acquire it. Many defects in classical education are so obvious, that it requires no superior acuteness to detect them; and the opponents of the established system might perhaps get credit for some share of good sense and good intention, if, while they declaim against its errors, they would only be more tolerant towards its virtues. Differing from these persons altogether in our view of intellectual acquirements, we consider all knowledge to have its uses, and to be capable of giving pleasure: we admit some kinds of knowledge to be universally useful, and therefore necessary; other kinds have less direct, or more remote, uses. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.