Great Books Question?

Haven't found it yet, Ted. But I DID find a copy of Harvard's 1869 Entrance examination.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/education/harvardexam.pdf

Latin, Greek, Math, etc. How would it go over today? :smile:

OK, so I guess it's $197,520 then. :smile:

J.

 

Still didn't find the 1636/46 Harvard-clone course, but I did find a Harvard Crimson article on the 17th Century original curriculum. The article was written in the 1880s. As I've read elsewhere, the 17th Century curriculum was very Bible oriented. It's here:The Curriculum of Study at Harvard in Early Years. | News | The Harvard Crimson

Interesting point: "The absence of Latin from the entire plan of study is noticeable, and is explained by the fact that students were required to speak Latin in the class-rooms and in the college yard. Latin was the main requirement for admission to Harvard College."

Yes - from the degree requirements, it seems I heard right. Heavy on religion at Harvard, in those early days. Not surprising at all, for a colony of people escaping religious persecution in the Old Country.

Bachelor's requirements "Ability to translate passage of the Bible from the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into Latin, and to expound biblical texts, were the main requisites for the Bachelor's degree."

Master's requirements: "A scholastic digest of logic, ethics, physics, mathematics, etc., with ability to defend theses, superceded to the above-mentioned biblical training and approved piety secured to the candidates the degree of Master of Arts"

J.

 

Johann: Bachelor's requirements "Ability to translate passage of the Bible from the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into Latin, and to expound biblical texts, were the main requisites for the Bachelor's degree."

John: As well as having accepted Jesus Christ as ones personal savior.

 

Oops! That lets me out! Likely so obvious a requirement in that community it didn't need to be spelled out - taken for granted even more than fluency in Latin. Master's degree required "approved piety," though - whatever that means, exactly.

Grates sed non. (Thanks, but no thanks.)

J.

 

Writing the above post puts me in mind of Increase Mather and his son, Cotton Mather. Increase was a Puritan Minister, involved in the government of the Colony, and the administration of Harvard College. He was a major figure in the infamous Salem Witch trials, as was his son, Cotton, also a Puritan Minister.

Increase Mather was also the first recipient of an honorary degree in the New World - A Doctorate of Sacred Theology in 1692 from his alma mater, Harvard.

Salem Witch Trials! Brrrr....

J.

 

No, Steve. I think it just means that they started a lot later. In England, honorary degrees have been on record since the late 1470s, when Lionel Woodville was awarded one by Oxford. He later became Bishop of Salisbury.

I searched for quite a while in Spanish and found ZERO early examples of honorary degrees, in Spanish-speaking New or Old World. Lots of modern-day recipients, including Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the International Olympic Committee. He has quite a few.

The University of Salamanca, in Spain, opened its doors in 1218. 704 years later, in 1922, the school conferred its first honorary doctorate.

PROTOCOLO : Los primeros doctorados honoris causa en la Universidad de Salamanca (1922-1934)

In fact, this work (below) says the first honorary doctorates in Spain were made possible by legislative changes in 1919-1920. Couldn't find anything specific pre-dating that re: former Spanish possessions in the Americas.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=m28m2pYQRdIC&pg=PA281&lpg=PA281&dq=los-primeros-doctorados-honoris-causa.html&source=bl&ots=MSLooxkTV0&sig=wLGMgpu_6PnnG397WWVcAhsfGZE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimj934l9jMAhVI1oMKHUbyBwYQ6AEIMDAD#v=onepage&q=los-primeros-doctorados-honoris-causa.html&f=false

So, unless someone can come up with contra-indicating info, I guess Harvard wins by at least 230 years.... :smile:

J.

 

Since we're on the subject of honorary degrees, here's my favourite story, from the Wiki page on honorary degrees:

In 1996, Southampton College at Long Island University (now a campus of SUNY Stony Brook) awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Amphibious Letters to Muppet Kermit the Frog. Although some students objected to awarding a degree to a Muppet, Kermit delivered an enjoyable commencement address and the small college received considerable press coverage.[35] The degree was conferred in recognition of efforts in the area of environmentalism. Said the university: "His theme song, 'It's Not Easy Bein' Green,' has become a rallying cry of the environmental movement. Kermit has used his celebrity to spread positive messages in public service announcements for the National Wildlife Federation, National Park Service, the Better World Society, and others."

'Way more uplifting story than somebody's cat with a milled Master's. :smile:

J.

 

And here I thought the first honorary doctorates at Harvard were much earlier, when the faculty of Harvard conferred an honorary doctorate on the president of Harvard, whereupon he conferred doctorates on them. Or something like that.

 

I have a question for you Ted, or anyone else who wishes to weigh in. I once read a book, sometime long ago, and I don't remember what book it was. No matter how hard I try, I just can't remember the name of it. This books was concerning United States Military matters. A certain General (I think) wrote that the single most effective disabling strike in hand to hand combat was a single open palm strike delivered underneath the jaw. Damn, try as I may, this book eludes me, and I just can't remember! Do you have any ideas? Shit! I guess this book must have revolved around a time when hand to hand combat was more prevalent, before modern technologies.

Abner :smile:

 

Sorry but I am of little or no help on this one.

 

I read this somewhere before and tried to look it up again, Ted - and couldn't find it today. IIRC, the story went like this: The doctoral degrees you refer to were not exactly honorary, in the modern sense. At that time (1630s?) according to Old-World rules, certain positions required a doctorate - and someone (I forget who - not Rev. John Harvard) with a real (Old-World) doctorate and the legit power to do so, conferred the doctoral title on one - or maybe two - worthy individuals. Call them what you like - "emergency" doctorates, doctorates sur-le-champ or whatever - but they were beyond the realm of a ceremonial thingy - they had real powa! :smile:

J.

 

Yay! - Found 'em. Two doctorates, conferred on Harvard tutors - William Brattle and John Leverett. Both STDs - that's Doctor of Sacred Theology, not a disease. At least one, likely both, required a dissertation. Awarded 1692 - same year as newly-confirmed Harvard President, Increase Mather's honorary degree. Increase Mather = father of Cotton Mather - remember him at the Salem witchcraft trials.... :sad:

J.

 

Was it this one, Abner? Tactical Medical Essentials, from American College of Emergency Physicians? It says pretty well what you said, above.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=xuFZlbJVxc4C&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=a+single+open+palm+strike+delivered+underneath+the+jaw.&source=bl&ots=KHunaBCHui&sig=F6E-6StzD7Z13KjK0LrMOlka9XE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2tNym-8vNAhVh54MKHVARBT8Q6AEIRjAG#v=onepage&q=a%20single%20open%20palm%20strike%20delivered%20underneath%20the%20jaw.&f=false

J.