MANOLOGY
5 W
reasons to study the CLASSICS
BY ADAM BAILEY
hile the ancient world may seem remote and removed from the problems of the present—believeit-or-not, a simple understanding of the culture, philosophy, and classic literature is something every man should be well-versed in. Even if you didn’t study the classics in high school or college, there’s a case to be made that you should begin doing so now. Below are five reasons why every man should dive into the classics!
are able to grasp the significance of classical allusions in literature, poems, and even film. Without that cultural knowledge of the Greeks and Romans, most people are missing out on a much richer and emotional encounter with these classical works. Think about it. Try watching a movie like O’ Brother, Where Art Thou? when you’re well-versed in Homer’s Odyssey.
1. Enhances Your Cultural Literacy. Western culture is infused with references to the history and literature of classical Greece and Rome. With just a passing allusion to an ancient myth or story—an artist, author, or statesman can pack a mighty rhetorical punch. But for that punch to land, the audience must have fluency in the symbols and ideas of the spoken classical era.
But for the ancient Greeks and Romans, such subjects had a much broader and inspiring purpose. History and art were not just interesting and informative but were also thought to instill virtue and morality.
Unfortunately, because fewer and fewer people study the classics in their educational upbringing, fewer and fewer
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2. Instills Virtue and Morality. Most men typically approach history and art from a very utilitarian, almost scientific view. We’re more interested in the factual minutia of history, while art is only useful to the extent that it entertains us.
3. Allows You to See the Interconnectedness of Ideas. Today’s educational system has become increasingly specialized. We’ve created artificial barriers between different fields of study. When you’re in history, you largely just focus on history. When you’re studying phys-
