Compared with the Christian Ideal A Study in the Philosophy of Education BY SISTER MARY KATHARINE MCCARTHY, O. S. B., A. B. OF THE SISTERS OF ST. BENEDICT, DULUTH, MINNESOTA A DISSERTATION Submitted to The Catholic University of America in Partial THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION PRESS WASHINGTON, D. C. JUNE, 1914 UNIV. OF PREFACE The primary aim of this investigation is to compare the motives used in stimulating attention in characteristic Pagan countries with the motives logically consistent with Christian ideals. Experience has abundantly shown that Pagan motives will often percolate through a professedly Christian stratum, vitiating results. The hope of contributing even in a very small measure to the intensifying of interest in the question of motivation has prompted us to take up this line of research. The striking contrast between Pagan and ideally Christian motives can, we think, best be drawn when the two are arraigned in juxtaposition. It is our pleasing duty to express our gratitude to Very Reverend Thomas Edward Shields, Ph.D., for the manifold help he has given in the preparation of this Dissertation, and also for the kindness and scholarly care with which he has directed our studies in the Philosophy of Education. We also gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to Reverend Patrick J. McCormick, Ph.D., for valuable suggestions and to Reverend William Turner, S.T.D., who consented to read the first redaction of the Greek and Roman period of this Dissertation, as Reverend Franz Joseph Coeln, Ph.D., and Reverend Romanus Butin, Ph.D., did of the Jewish period. To all of these scholars we are indebted for valuable criticism while the author alone is accountable for any shortcoming in the work. SISTER KATHARINE. Feast of Saint Scholastica, 293721 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Aim and scope of the present work-Countries selected as types for study-Pagan countries, Sparta, Athens, Rome- The Jewish People-The Christian Ideal-Roots of Greek MOTIVES FURNISHED BY THE HOMERIC EPIC... Emulation dominant-Attributed also to the gods-Emulation evidenced in cause and progress of Trojan War-Par- tiality of the gods-Homer, the Greek child's "First Book"-Plato's opinion of using Homer as a text-Means by which the Iliad and the Odyssey reached the child— Minstrel Rhapsodist-Xenophon's testimony of Homer's GREEK ATHLETICS IN HOMERIC AND IN EARLY HISTORIC TIMES...... Peculiar conditions leading to differences in Athenian and Spartan training-Spartan need of training primarily for warfare Education, a state care in Sparta-Constant vigilance-Flogging-Encouragement to steal-Content of Sparta's training-Youthful "fights"-Rewards of honor- 16 |