The Classical Tradition: An Encounter between Philosophy and Philology. An interview with Henar Zamora Salamanca

Abstract

In this interview with classical philologist Henar Zamora Salamanca, a specialist in the philosophy and poetry of the ancient Greeks, we discuss the role that Classical cultural tradition plays in our contemporary world, the relationship between philology and philosophy, the true possibilities of understanding Ancient thought without a parallel understanding of its original language, and the role that modern translation plays in it. We also analyze the current situation of the humanities, and especially the threat to the survival of Classical studies that is represented by the imposition of strictly pragmatic, utilitarian and quantitative criteria that overvalue efficiency and production, while neglecting reflection and true knowledge, as a new goal for contemporary Academy.