The Politics of Origin Myths: The Book of Genesis and its Allies and Competitors -- Latin

*Please note that this course will run only if two or more students enroll.

Course Description: What is the fundamental nature of reality, of the Cosmos (Hellenically put) or of Heaven and Earth (Hebraically put)? What is the fundamental nature of the human being? What is the human's relation to the whole? What is eros? What is hubris? Can humanity overthrow the Divine? What are the pros and cons of a more tragic, constrained, conservative view of human nature? What are the pros and cons of a more hopeful, boundless, progressive view of human nature? In this class close reading and discussion of Genesis 1-11 will be the primary focus but with several sessions devoted to comparing and discussing other accounts from Hesiod, Plato, Ovid, and Lucretius. Participants will read both the Vulgate version of Genesis and the 1556 Castellio translation into Ciceronian Latin, with some sessions devoted to extra-biblical texts in English translation. The instructor aims, through a combination of translation, discussion, and lecture, to show participants the awesome richness of the texts and the ways they can inform our own soul searching today.

DETAILS

Level: This course is intended for students with intermediate to advanced knowledge of Latin.

Textbook: Instructor will provide materials in both English and Latin, except for one book for purchase: Plato's Timaeus translated by Peter Kalkavage.

Sections capped at: 5 students. If the course is sold-out, please fill out this waiting-list form.

When
Mondays, 8:00p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Cost
$250

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The Politics of Origin Myths: The Book of Genesis and its Allies and Competitors -- Latin ($250)

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Instructor

David Ring

David Ring teaches Latin and Ancient Greek as living languages by using an eclectic mix of methods, ranging from the insights of Renaissance Humanist pedagogy (especially the advice of Erasmus) to the Direct or Nature method to (first and foremost) Teaching with Comprehensible Input. Be it a discussion in Latin or Greek about a beautiful painting, or personal life conversation, or solving riddles, or paraphrasing poets into simpler prose, or storyboarding Lucian's True Stories -- David and his students aim to get lost in the joy of what they are doing, such that they forget they are speaking Latin or Ancient Greek. He believes that the purpose of liberal education is to help young people grow in self-knowledge -- both individual and cultural --, to help them form sharp intellects, wise judgment, and greatness of soul. He believes this is best done via direct encounters with the greatest minds and greatest stories of the last 3,000 years.