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/lit/ - Literature

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14768604 No.14768604 [Reply] [Original]

Why should someone even bother reading Greek literature or philosophy. Its the most primitive type of story telling and we've gotten a billion times better since then

>> No.14768612
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14768612

To learn, OP

>> No.14768620

>>14768604
If all the knowledge of the modern world were to be lost, and if from the libraries of Washington we could but save one book, it'd suffice to save The Enneads, for the intellect of the holy Plotinus towers above whatever kind of "knowledge" the West has produced.
You cry and denounce primitive stories, brother, but don't you perceive that you are yourself immersed in one- "we've gotten a billion times better since then." You are primitive.

>> No.14768646
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14768646

>>14768604
>why would i care about a society not tainted by jews, when i can read the judeo romans the judeo christians

>> No.14768647

Be honest, OP, have you read Homer?

Read the Iliad and then give me a contemporary author with the same emotional power, gripping action and historical mythos.

You cannot, and you would arguably struggle to find anyone else in history who did so.

>> No.14768653
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14768653

>>14768646
European jews are actually closely related to the Greeks you dumb schizo

>> No.14768660

>>14768653

So? He was talking about culture.

>> No.14768662

>>14768604
Why read contemporary literature or philosophy when more will be produced in the future?

>> No.14768669

>>14768647
Tolkien

>> No.14768721

>>14768669

I would personally disagree with that, since Homer used divinity and magic to enhance the very real battle and drama that had genuine roots in an historical event and culture of the peoples involved. For example, Hectors poor decision to venture out to meet Achilles in battle, is contrived by deception by Athena, who is disguised as his ally and vanishes. It is a tragic pivotal moment, that doesn't outright say, Hector was foolish, but all the obvious reasons behind the real encounters are wrapped up with what the gods do.

Tolkein does not separate the magic from the event. He allows the magic to become the event, so much as the any kind of human element is lost in this world. And has led to fantasy to become obsessed with lore, which essentially becomes the mechanics of a world detached from real human existence.

>> No.14768725

>>14768604
honestly I think its more my pace. The presocratics have given me a much better appreciation for the natural world than the stuff I learned in grade school. I think its because the way they write about it makes it feel more important but Im not completely sure.

>> No.14768747

>>14768653
>i care about genes like the bourgeois at the university told me too

>> No.14768828

>>14768604

Well at the very least there's something to be said for going to the source, hearing the words from the horses mouth and etc.
Humans certainly have a great tendency to take for granted what they have