Roman Wisdom

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

"Recommended for students who have completed CLLA 20003 or equivalent." Romans thought they were wise. Sapientia (wisdom) was understood as better than Greek philosophy. Cicero and others thought of wisdom as a blend of tradition, hard practicality, and good government of the state, of the familia, of one's self. Finally, Greek philosophy had to be accommodated to Roman needs. Who were the Romans' sages and what was their wisdom literature? We shall read Cornelius Nepos' Life of Cato, Cicero's On old age, and consider other sages as well--the old men of comedy, Virgil's Anchises, and Ovid's Pythagoras. Latin language skills are necessary for this course.