Last month the Husky basketball team went to Greece together. They played some local teams but, also, since they are students too, got some in-depth instruction on Greek history from Dr. James Clauss of the UW Classics department. Dr. Clauss is also head of the UW Honors program, and a winner of the UW's Distinguished Teaching award.

The Huskies went 2-3 in basketball on the trip, but we thought it would be interesting to check up with Dr. Clauss on how it went from a learning perspective. We emailed him questions, he emailed back answers.

From what I read it seemed that you picked Socrates as sort of a focal point for your teaching during the trip. What made you choose Socrates?

You are on the money. Socrates is a figure that continues to attract, haunt, and often times enrage readers of Plato's dialogues and other Socratic literature. From what we can gather, he was a highly principled individual who felt that no one, himself included, should take what they know or think they know for granted. The starting point of wisdom for him was to admit ignorance, an admission people then and now are loath to make. He thus asked people to define concepts such as justice, moderation, piety, etc. and then proceeded to critique them with a highly aggressive Q&A session. He became unpopular for a number of reasons and ultimately was put to death, a death he freely accepted.

As such, he usually gets people's attention, and fast, and thus provides a wonderful starting point and useful approach for investigating universal topics, topics that are all too infrequently discussed nowadays.

Was there anything different about discussing this material with a group entirely made up of college athletes, as opposed to a group of regular students?

I presented this material as I would present it to any class I teach on campus, whether freshmen or graduate students: straight up. The participants in this class were indeed college athletes, but also students. And when we discussed the topics at hand, they stepped up to the academic plate and many were the hits I observed in class. Within one week, they had Socrates sized up perfectly: an idealistic thinker, concerned for the well being of his fellow Athenians, a martyr for the cause of intellectual honesty, but also a potentially annoying and irritating intruder.

They understood the need for a Socrates to wake us out of our mental stupor but also sensed the apprehension at what his kind of revealing questions might expose--an appropriately nuanced view of this remarkable figure in Western civilization.

Was there a place that you visited in Greece that the players really seemed to have a reaction to?

For all, seeing the heart of Athens was a moving experience. The minute detail that went into the Parthenon gave a clear idea of the attention to beauty and longing for perfection that characterized the fifth century BC at which time the philosopher lived. All of the students responded to what we saw and, appropriately, in different ways. Some articulated their reactions in words, others with their cameras. In speaking with each of the team members and the coaches and their families, it was clear: visiting Greece was transformative. I should add: I was not immune to the transformation. Coach Lorenzo Romar, together with his outstanding coaching staff, managed to create a strong sense of belonging to the group, and one that was not exclusive of an outsider like me.

Last year, the Huskies had high expectations and a disappointing season. They're hoping to rebound with a successful season this year. Is there any precedent in classical mythology for something like this?

To answer any questions regarding the upcoming season, I would want to consult the oracle at Delphi, an opportunity I unfortunately missed this time. Perhaps I might offer one insight. Many of the great heroes in ancient myths went on quests to distant places as part of, or in preparation for, their defining moments. Was this such a journey for the 2007-08 Huskies? Will they bring Seattle a golden fleece next March? Only the Fates know for sure.