Sara Mack and Cecil Wooten discuss the importance of studying the classics, a field, they argue, that provides historical context and models of excellence. The scholars trace the historical precedents of ancient Rome in the areas of politics, culture, and society, finding many similarities between Rome during classical antiquity and the United States. They conclude by discussing the decline of Roman civilization and contemporary parallels, the educational benefits of studying the classics, and the evolution of individualism as a historical concept.
At the time of this interview, both Mack and Wooten, Fellows at the National Humanities Center (1980-81), were professors of classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
