Classic Texts Never To Be Left Unread

July 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Although some of you are doing everything possible to prove me wrong, I stand by my premise that you can’t read all the Great Books. There just isn’t enough time even for the most dedicated bibliophile. You must make discerning choices about what literary wells you drink from. However, in A Students Guided to Liberal Learning James V. Schall recommends the following titles as “classic texts never to be left unread.”

1) Gorgias, by Plato

2) Nicomachean Ethics, by Aristotle

3) Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius

4) The Confessions, by Augustine

5) Reflections on the Revolution in France, by Edmund Burke

6) The Republic, by Plato

7) The City of God, by Augustine

8) The Summa Theologiae, by Thomas Aquinas

What classic texts would you add to his list?

__________

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Philosophers and Death

July 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

No man escapes death, yet most spend their entire life running from even the idea of it. In A Students Guided to Liberal Learning James V. Schall recommends these five classic texts on philosophy, good men, and death;

1) The Apology, Crito, and Phaedo, by Plato

2) The account of the death of Christ in the Gospel of John (chapters 13-21)

3) On Duties, by Cicero (especially Part III which was written just before he was executed)

4) The Consolation of Philosophy, by Boethius

5) Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt

What texts would you add to his list?

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Thomas Aquinas

July 10, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Thomas Aquinas has a tremendous influence on the theology of both Catholics and Protestants.  How much do you know of him?  In  A Students Guided to Liberal Learning James V. Schall recommends the following five books on Thomas Aquinas;

1) St. Thomas Aquinas, by Ralph McInerny

2) Guide to St. Thomas Aquinas, by Josef Pieper

3) Friar Thomas D’Aquino, by James Weisheipl

4) St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox, by G.K. Chesterton

5) The Thought of Thomas Aquinas, by Brian Davies

What do you think of his recommendations?

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Laughter and Metaphysics

July 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

In A Students Guided to Liberal Learning James V. Schall writes, “Aristotle said that , because both depend on seeing relations, the ability to laugh is very close to metaphysics.”  Thus, he recommends the following three books of humor;

1) The Wodehouse Clergy (P.G. Wodehouse)

2) My Life and Hard Times (James Thurber)

3) The Pocket Book of Ogden Nash (Ogden Nash)

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