The Five Greatest Works of Classical Education by Martin Cothran

Martin Cothran discusses the most important works to read to get a classical education.
More Information: www.memoriapre... #MemoriaPress #ClassicalChristianComplete

[@memoriapress]

Want to learn more about the philosophy and culture of Classical Education? Check out our new podcast "Classical Et Cetera"! Every other Thursday at 9:00 am here on the Memoria Press Channel. Season 1 Playlist -> kzbin.info/aero/PLVTTYXJZjjHLeEff3Vlht_SIn9W0E51ip Episode 001 with Martin Cothran -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3_WeqhupqtjmtU

[@Silly-Little-Mama]

1. The Odyssey and The Iliad, by Homer 2. Aeneid, by Virgil 3. Dante’s Divine Comedy 4. King James Bible 5. The plays of Shakespeare

[@Amdgomer]

@Jacob Duffy It's chronological.

[@easterlee2143]

Thank you for your comment.

[@aaronburnsbonaventurebookk595]

Misspelled Douay-Rheims Bible.

[@raymondfrye5017]

Instead of the KJV Bible,I suggest Plato's Republic.

[@josmaalmanza7137]

Bible is #1.

[@LibertyGarden]

Great list. I've read them all. For people of Spanish heritage throw in Don Quijote.

[@ricosuave7102]

I have all these books but I have yet to read them.

[@TerexJ]

I've got my reading list from How To Read a Book by Mortimer J Adler and Charles Van Doren. I think it's a great list that covers all of the classics thoroughly. I've added a few of my own picks of course, however, I don't know if I'll be able to finish it within the next decade. But I know I'll finish it one day.

[@davidstanford-beale6332]

Whenever I visit somebody’s home for the first time I don’t take note of their furniture or their wall decorations,: I try to run my eye over their bookcase. That gives a greater indication of their intellect, their philosophy and their character.

[@MyTreadmill2012]

I totally agree. What you find on other people's bookshelves can give you uncanny insight to a person . As a corollary to this (and I stumbled upon this accidentally years ago), if you want to have an interesting first date, take someone to a bookstore (if you can find one!) You will learn way more about them than just by talking for an hour over dinner - or at least you will certainly learn things about them that normally wouldn't come up over dinner!

[@BadWolfSilence]

Or what they want other people to think about them. But that can be useful information as well.

[@raymondfrye5017]

So what do you do when all their reading material is : Playboy ,Fox,Hustler,Johnny does Teacher, Pepper...and the House Intellectual is reading Justine...by the Marquis?

[@PotterPossum1989]

*straightens up his collection of Confederate themed literature* *resumes petting the cats sleeping on the bookcase*

[@Aizensophistry30]

Unbelievably pretentious

[@Acquiesce116]

Well said, Mr. Cothran is the best! Time to crack open the Shakespeare.

[@sociallyhostileelement3425]

Even in public school we went through The Odyssey and some of Shakespeare's plays, at least. Plus I had the Bible at home and church. So I was at least halfway classically educated.

[@johnstonerockhard1392]

How old r u...im 46 and we learned none of it..

[@johnstonerockhard1392]

Just curious...how far behind is classical education..this is exactly what is wrong w our culture

[@KenAnderson-i5b]

Same here. I read The Odyssey my 9th grade year, Shakespeare my sophomore year, then my senior year we read Dante's Inferno and had vivid discussions as a class. All in a public high school, in a suburb of Phoenix. Not so bad I guess

[@ted1045]

We went over the Odyssey my freshman year, I've made sure to read the Iliad thankfully, of highschool and covered about five or six Shaksperean plays during the rest of high school. I took British literature my senior year in high school so I was exposed to a bit more breadth than I would have otherwise been. The King Jame Bible was the one I grew up with and read so all in all I could do with expanding a bit more into Shakespeare and making sure to read the Aeneid, which I've never read, and to read Dante's divine comedy in its entirety. I thankfully was exposed to Dante to a certain extent in a humanities class that was required my first or second year of college. All in all I still have quite a bit of work to do, but I appreciate your list and suggestions. Very helpful. I do wish you offered a home study package tailored towards adults though.

[@samuelraj5833]

Great...This video Gives me clear idea about Classical education.. Thanks a lot...

[@Seek2be]

The Douay-Rheims Bible with Father Haydock Commentary is the absolute best translation and it's free of errors.

[@ojibwayinca8487]

Which Shakespearian plays to start?

[@hipidipi20157max]

Great list. Its interesting that others include Plato and Saint Augustine. Could Paradise Lost and Herodotus Histories be in the second 5 list?

[@litforbrains]

Thank you! This is a profoundly important list.

[@wintermatherne2524]

Could you tell us more about the supplemary materials you suggested at Memoria to help us with this difficult literature?

[@elamorvencera7247]

Excellent explanation.

[@MaynorPinto]

Does anyone know the name of the painting at 1:12?

[@Silly-Little-Mama]

Thank you for this!

[@stretmediq]

I've read every book on your list

[@jamessheffield4173]

Great pick.

[@fallingcrane1986]

Great list! Although, which translations of the Iliad, Oddysey, Aeneid and Divine Comedy should be used?

[@basedcataphract5852]

Any would be good, but the penguin classics is great too

[@AlkibiadesKleiniou]

you should have a type of translation in mind when looking. Some prioritize preserving prose and others preserve the poetry.

[@antonioperetti7468]

For the Iliad, definitely the R. Lattimore translation.

[@NodakBro]

r/ClassicalEducation is a great place to read these with others!

[@belomolnar2128]

How About Machiavelli ?

[@lissadawes4243]

Im very disappointed that 50 Shades of Gray and Twilight didn’t make the cut.

[@sayloltothetroll6806]

I think a classical education should include the writings of Calvin and Hobbes.

[@nikkili8944]

Alas! What a shame! The great and influential works of the 21st century. Unfortunately not appreciated by the classical education scholars...

[@raymondfrye5017]

Well, for that matter you can feel more offended by the exclusion of the Marquis' works,that is, the Marquis de Sade's: _120 Days of Sodom_ or _Justine_ . Hours of reading pleasure with a glass of your favorite wine; it's not all whips and chains,you know.

[@lissadawes4243]

@@raymondfrye5017 oh it isn’t? Dam. I was hoping that’s all it was about. (You think I was being serious?)

[@raymondfrye5017]

@@lissadawes4243A serious comment? Of course not. I'm just kidding too. Ha!

[@rekkobold7998]

What is thar book collection behind him? I would love that for my house

[@memoriapress]

Hey Rekko, Those are the Britannica Great Books of the Western World!

[@rekkobold7998]

@@memoriapress thank you! I will look these up and add them to my library

[@Bryan-gt8pf]

Is there army recommended translations for these books? Thanks!

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

Most classical educators recommend reading the original, which is why Latin and Greek are learned before delving into classical literature. However, if youre looking for suggestions: First, keep in mind that all translations will have faults. You're looking for a translation with minimal faults that is fairly well known. If more poeple have read it, it's faults will be well known. This enables you to uncover those faults and get a better sense of the original. I recommend either Fagles or Lombardo for both Homer and Virgil. Fagles is readable and accurate. Lombardo is direct/literal in his translation even easier to read (in my opinion). Fagles is the more popular and is commonly used by professors. Fagles is prettier to read. I strongly suggest the Hollander translation of Dante. It is accurate, readable, and very popular. You should be able to find a used copy on the cheap, and others will be familiar with it, so you'll easily find information regarding it. I can't earnestly recommend any other translation simply because Hollander is so widely available/read. You can even get the Hollander translation free online (all over, just Google it)

[@spelcheak]

Aristotle II being right after the Syntopicon on the shelf…

[@michelleattar9412]

Would you mind explaining why the old testament is not part of classical education ?

[@sociallyhostileelement3425]

He said the KJV Bible. That would include the Old Testament.

[@martha1spur]

No one said the Old Testament wasn't part of a classical education.

[@koolege2]

Add Master&Margarita to the list. Just do it!

[@Bill-uo6cm]

Tremendous

[@cholos17]

Great stuff, the only piece missing is Don Quixote!

[@kaliki76]

What if you hate reading Shakespeare?

[@ronaldlavender1137]

Why would you pursue the classics?

[@kaliki76]

@@ronaldlavender1137 I like everything but shakespeare?

[@nicolcacola]

. Classical education cultivates a love of learning. If it doesn't appeal to you don't waste you time on it.

[@frehatipu9187]

You don't have to read anything you don't like. We are all wired differently and not everyone will connect with Shakespeare. This list is subjective for sure.

[@BadWolfSilence]

You could always try it and if you don’t like it stop reading it. Nothing wrong if it doesn’t appeal to you, and to be perfectly honest a lot of people read things like Shakespeare just to brag about it or appear smart without even understanding what they read.

[@lois3356]

What about the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest Epic Poem ever written, 2100 BC?

[@ronaldlavender1137]

While of priceless value I'm not certain that it properly belongs to Western Civilization. Please correct me ig I'm wrong.

[@martha1spur]

It's not Western.

[@lois3356]

@@martha1spur how?

[@pingupenguin2474]

​​@@lois3356 Because it's from Gilgamesh !

[@ojibwayinca8487]

I would take the Bible off the list and assume that is the best of all books written. But, if I chose books other than the Bible I would add to this list either The Confessions or The Republic.

[@nileslivingstonsr3930]

Having READ God's holy written Word ( King James Bible / Texas Receptus ) for 42 years ATTENTIVELY ( Prov. 4:18-27; Job 28:28; Psalm 1:1-6; 19:1-14; 119:1-176; Acts 3:18-26; 24:14; I Tim. 4:13-16; II Peter 1:19-21; Rev. 1:3; 22:18-19; Matt. 4:4; John 14:6; Dan. 10:21; 12:3, 10; Matt. 24:1-25:46; II Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:6-20; 17:1-18:24; ...Eze. 2:1-3:27; 7:1-27; 12:1-28; 13:1-23; 14:1-23; ...18:1-32; 21:1-32; ...31:1-32:32; and 33:1-33; ...Ecc. 9:13-18 ) ...from July 4th 1980, age 21. ...If you were wise: ...You'll only need to READ the truth: Which you'll ONLY find in God's holy written Word. ...Matt. 7:1-29. ...Why? ...Simple: I Corinthians 15:33-34 says: ..."Be not deceived: evil communications CORRUPT good manners. Awake to righteousness, ( Psalm 119:176; I King 15:5 ) and sin not: ( II John 9-11; I John 3:5-6; Rom. 6:1-23; 8:13; I Cor. 15:1-58; Phil. 3:1-21 ) for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ( I also speak this to America's shame: 400,000 plus churches/ 40,000 divisions of Protestants and Catholics: Rom. 16:17-18; Matt. 15:7-14; Jer. 5:20-31; Matt. 7:13-15, 21-23, 26-27; 23:1-39; Gal. 1:7-9; II Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15; I Tim. 6:3-10; Jer. 8:10; Isa. 3:12; 10:1-23; 30:1-3; 33:14; Amos 5:21-23; 9:10; I Cor. 3:16-17; I Peter 1:15-16; Rom. 1:18-32 ) ...Job 37:1-24! ...It's a known fact that Thomas Jefferson with scissors cut all the miracles ( as he could ), out of the Bible! It's called: "the Jefferson Bible." ( Rev. 22:18-19!! ...he's NOT in heaven! ) ...America's problem is simple: You fear not God. ( Rom. 16:17-18; Phil. 3:2, 18-19; I John 2:15-17; James 4:4; Deu. 28:1-14 ( BLESSED! ) vs Deu. 28:15-68 ( CURSED! ) ...Prov. 3:33!! ...but who has the courage to WARN an ungodly nation such as this? ...Ezekiel 2:1-3:27; 18:1-32; 33:1-33!! ...Someone like me. ( Col. 1:28; II John 9-11; II Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; Ezekiel 43:1-12; Prov. 13:13; John 9:31; Heb. 7:26 )...Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21!! Is WHAT all of our children should have been LEARNING ( Deu. 11:18-32; Psalm 78:1-72; Eph. 6:1-3 ) ...Amen. ...Instead, they, who are know adults have been TAUGHT by FALSE prophets and FALSE teachers ( II Peter 2:1-22; Isa. 1:23, 28; 2:6-22; Rev. 17:1-18:24; Matt. 6:23-24; Prov. 28:22; Jer. 8:10 ), how to become RICH ( I Tim. 6:3-10; Phil. 3:2, 18-19; II Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15 ): it's called, "The American Dream!" ...Covetousness! ...II Tim. 2:24-26. REPENTANCE ( True REPENTANCE / Jonah 3:1-10 ), will be the only solution to ALL America's problems. You should READ God's holy written Word with ALL your heart once and for evermore! ( John 8:31-32; Acts 3:18-26; 24:14; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; Matt. 4:4 ) ...I only READ one book! Amen.

[@libertycoffeehouse3944]

I would not agree on Lincoln. His speeches were muck. He was not very honest as well. He gave a speech in 1848 saying secession was the right of all free people but later said it was illegal in 1860 despite the fact that the notes from the ratification debates showed otherwise.

[@maxmacken8859]

It's not classic without Plato or Aristotle

[@lwhlwh9701]

You need to put a microphone on your person or tone down the background music. It hides too much of your good content.

[@booklover1945]

While I appreciate your efforts to promote classical education, you must admit, the King JAmes is a deceptive translation, it’s not true to the Word of God. It changes many words related to the Blessed Virgin and removed 7 books. It is even numerically incomplete, by no coincidence it removed 7 books, (7being a perfect number) and itself contains 66 books (6 being an incomplete number) The Douay Rheims is the only one for English speakers. You don’t get good fruits from bad trees, no matter how many times you say it, the KJV is not good. Shakespeare is Catholic, so he probably didn’t read the forbidden kjv, but the challoner version of the Douay Rheims.

[@dsrtflwr6093]

The Catholic Bible is a false Bible for a false religion

[@levibaer18]

Because the KJV is the greatest work in English.

[@fallingcrane1986]

Although, the Challoner-Rheims was influenced by the King James. It is easily searchable that there are multiple places in the text of the Challoner-Rheims that use the same words as the King James than the original Douai-Rheims. Another thing to note is that the original King James Version did have the removed 7 books, but that they were placed in the “apocrypha” by the reformers. I hear there’s a King James Version for Catholics going around, so that’s interesting to hear. Ah, if only the Reformation had never happened, then none of us would be having this argument!

[@levibaer18]

@@fallingcrane1986 If only the reformation wouldn’t have happened, I would be stopped in Catholicism, headed straight to hell.

[@basedcataphract5852]

We are not talking about the bible, we are talking about the words, the grammar and such

[@grahamgillard3722]

Religious nonsense. What if you don’t believe in god? Just read Aristotle and you’ll have a good life.

[@rasheedlewis1]

Aristotle will lead you to Thomism

[@90sladdo]

Only the first three books are classical. Dante is medieval, the King James could qualify but English is not a classical language so better off with Jerome's Vulgate. Shakespeare is modern. None of these works, except the Holy Scripture, are books to do with education, so whilst a nice selection they do not cover the aims presented. You cannot discuss classical education without Aristotle as he provided many of the textbooks of such an education. It seems that what is now classed as classical means just modern with older literature books. The arts of education are neglected.