The Practical case for studying Latin

[guy]

An interesting article from Antigone is entitled "The Practical Case for Studying Latin."

Quote

Latin is useful, however; and unlike the sciences, it is not only useful to those who practise it. Indeed, Latin is useful to anyone who wishes to learn another language, or to anyone who hopes to become a doctor or a lawyer. It is useful to anyone who simply wants to improve their mental faculties, or expand the horizons of their perception, and that is without making the oft-repeated case – as I have avoided doing – that a knowledge of Latin deepens one’s understanding of Western culture, of art, philosophy and literature. If, as Phillipson maintains, students ought to “get a richer, broader, cutting-edge school experience”, the solution is to expand, rather than curtail, access to the world’s most influential language. We may not have the same use for Latin as the Romans did, but we can still make immense use of it nonetheless.

 

The Practical Case for Studying Latin – Antigone

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

I dunno-- I think Philipson is right......The study of Latin obviously helps in understanding western culture, whose roots lie with the Romans, and no doubt makes the study of Romance languages a little easier for those of us who don't speak a Romance language.....but....

I don't think knowing Latin helped much at all in studying anatomy- the only discipline in med school using Latin at all........

...and many Latin terms used in Law make no sense at all...Eg-- habeas corpus (might you have a body... What the heck does that mean?) should be habes captivum-- do you have the prisoner