There will be a few articles following about education. These will be focused on medieval, Renaissance and Elizabethan education. It is necessary to know what these individuals were taught to better understand what they understood and the methods by which they came about knowledge. This is important for medieval and Renaissance treatises as I have discussed in my fencing blog (https://afencersramblings.blogspot.com/2020/06/old-learning-for-old-treatises.html), but is also essential for a greater understanding and appreciation of all texts of the period.
Cheers,
Henry.
Seven Liberal Arts: Trivium and Quadrivium
The seven
liberal arts, also known as the trivium and the quadrivium were the foundation
for education in the medieval period. Their importance cannot be doubted as
they laid the foundation for what would become the humanist education which
would develop in the Renaissance period. In both cases, it will be noted that
the knowledge was drawn from the classical period.
“Liberal arts is the term given
to an education based on classical antiquity. It is meant to be a practical
education which develops mental capacity. It was designed in the late medieval
period (12th/13th centuries) using ideas from Ancient Greek and
Roman culture. The students were meant to be young gentlemen, that is, from
respectable and important families.”[1]
Drawing on
classical antiquity was an attempt by the scholars who taught the students to
bring authority to what was taught, the classical authors also had educational
systems already laid out. It was also through this method that much of the
learning in this period was saved. The seven liberal arts themselves covered
quite a list of subjects and thus quite an expanse of knowledge.
“The seven liberal arts were
taught in two groups: the trivium and
the quadrivium:
§
Trivium
·
Grammar
·
Dialectic (logic)
·
Rhetoric
§
Quadrivium
·
Arithmetic
·
Geometry
·
Astronomy
The trivium taught the student
how to argue using language, and also how to use language to communicate. This
was the essential education that most students who were able to gain education availed
themselves. The quadrivium was for more advanced students, those who were
supposed to become leaders, the elite of society, thus taught how the universe
worked. Some foundation education was required before embarking on this
educational process.
“Originally, most of the
teaching, and all of the text-books, would have been in Latin, the language the
students would have learnt at school before they came to college. In the
beginning the courses were aimed at educating the elite in the classical
works.”[3]
Latin was the
language used because it was the language most common with other nations at the
time, thus it was common to all and could be spoken by the elite in their
negotiations. Further, most of the classical works in the period were primarily
available in Latin, or Greek, but mostly Latin. The Roman scholars were the
prime source for the educators, being the conquerors. The educational system
itself had its origins in Greece.
Ancient Origins
“From around 500BC, Liberal Arts
education began to take shape in Ancient Greece. To begin with, Pythagoras
argued that there was a mathematical and geometrical harmony to the cosmos or
the universe”[4]
The
mathematical and geometrical harmony is conveniently presented in the
combination of numbers when discussing the seven liberal arts. There are three
for the trivium on one side of a triangle, four representing the quadrivium on
another side of a right-angled triangle and the hypotenuse results in seven,
being the combination of both trivium and quadrivium in the seven liberal arts.
It was the mathematical beauty and learning of the quadrivium which Pythagoras’
followers focused on.
“Pythagoras argued that
mathematics and the beauty of number, ratio and proportion were the first
principles of everything in existence. His followers linked the four arts of
astronomy, mathematics, geometry and music into one are of study called the
Quadrivium. The study of number in particular was thought to purify the soul by
putting it in mathematical harmony with the universe.”[5]
The
quadrivium uses mathematics in four different forms to explain the universe,
which suited the followers of Pythagoras and also his teachings about the
impact and importance of mathematics to the universe. However, it would take
more than mathematics to create an educational system which to create a rounded
individual. The student also needed to know how to think and speak.
“In 4th century Athens, the
government of the polis, or city-state, respected the ability of rhetoric or
public speaking above almost everything else. The Sophists claimed to be able
to teach rhetorical skills to those who could pay them, and a science of
oratory began to develop. Success required knowledge of grammar and dialectic;
grammar in order to produce eloquence, and dialectic in order to make one’s
arguments powerful enough to win debates. In time, rhetoric, grammar and
dialectic became the educational programme of the Trivium. Until the European
Renaissance, the trivium and the quadrivium were the foundation of Western education.”[6]
The
combination of the trivium and the quadrivium was the key. It was necessary to
teach the student how to think about the universe before introducing the
student to how the universe worked. Further, it was necessary to teach the
student the correct manner in which to argue to ensure that the arguments were
correct, effective and logical. One of the greatest minds of the age was to
present the importance of the initial training.
“Aristotle who is considered to
be one of the originators of the ideas behind the Trivium stated that an
educated man should be capable of considering and investigating any idea or
concept thoroughly without necessarily embracing or dismissing it. ... Any emotional attachment to a particular
belief blocks any kind of rational or logical argumentation.”[7]
In
Aristotle’s approach there are the beginnings of the scientific approach.
Arguments were to be made without emotion evaluating the evidence “cold”. This
is because emotion blocks logical and rational arguments. Indeed the “Appeal to
Emotion” is cited as one of the logical fallacies which need to be avoided.[8]
Like the Renaissance humanist and
Enlightenment scientific approaches which would follow, “the seven liberal arts
were bound together by a philosophical approach to discovering the first
principles of the universe and mankind.”[9]
There is this urge in humankind to discover things about itself and the
universe in which it lives. The seven liberal arts, the trivium and quadrivium
were the foundation of education in the medieval period and in some cases,
beyond.
Trivium
“The Trivium is the first half of
the 7 Liberal Arts. It consists of 3 elements: General grammar, formal logic
and classical rhetoric. Sacred texts often refer to these 3 elements as knowledge,
understanding and wisdom. The overarching topic of the Trivium is communication
and language.
·
General grammar : The systematic method of
gathering raw data and ordering the facts of reality into a consistent body of
knowledge.
·
Formal logic : Bringing full and intimate
understanding to this body of knowledge by systematically eliminating all
contradictions within it.
·
Rhetoric : Communicating this comprehensive
knowledge and understanding to others in order to utilize the gained insights
in the real world.”[10]
The three subjects of the
trivium, the first part of the liberal arts were grammar, logic and rhetoric.
These three were focusing on language, how it was formed and how it was used,
especially in the forming of the argument. These are the science of language,
how it was formed and effectively used. There was an immediate emphasis on
functionality. In addition to what has been explained of these three subjects
is the following which takes a slightly different, if more direct examination
of the subjects.
“The trivium (Latin for three ways),
included the literary disciplines:
§
Grammar, the science of the correct usage of
language. It helps a person to speak and write correctly;
§
Dialectic (or logic), the science of correct
thinking. It helps you to arrive at the truth;
§
Rhetoric, the science of expression, especially
persuasion. Ways of organizing a speech or document. Adapting it so that people
understand it, and believe it.”[11]
In comparison to the previous
description of the subject the Wikipedia (2019) description focuses on the
functionality and practicality of the subjects being taught and how the
subjects would be used to enhance the student. The student was not just being
taught about language, they were being taught how to use language effectively.
This way they can use language to describe what’s around them. The trivium
comprised the individual’s basic learning. For advancement, further learning
was required in the form of the quadrivium.
Quadrivium
“The Quadrivium is the second
half of the 7 Liberal Arts. It consists of 4 elements : Arithmetic, geometry,
music and astronomy. The overarching topic of the Quadrivium is the study of
number and its relation to space and time.
·
Arithmetic : Number - as such number is a pure
abstraction outside of time and space. This aspect of the Quadrivium deals with
the different characteristics of each number
·
Geometry : Number in space - specific shapes can
have a deeper meaning. This aspect relates symbolism and it is frequently used
in architecture.
·
Music : Number in time - covers music in general
and particularly the topic of natural harmonics
·
Astronomy : Number in time and space - covers
the movement of planets in space and the natural harmonics between the planets
when looking at the aspect of time (harmony of the spheres). This is the first
time aspects of time and space meet with the abstraction of number thus it
builds the foundation for science.”[12]
While the trivium focused on
subjects about language and how to use it, the quadrivium focused on
mathematics and how to use it to explain the universe in all its forms. This
included not just physical measurement, but also the measurement of less
quantifiable things such as time, and in some senses, space. The beginning of
the process is to introduce numbers in arithmetic. Then put those numbers in
space in geometry, then in time in music; finally, to put the numbers in time
and space in astronomy. These numbers are used to explain the universe around
the individual.
“The quadrivium (Latin for four
ways), included the disciplines connected with mathematics. They were:
§
arithmetic teaches about numbers;
§
geometry teaches about calculating spaces;
§
astronomy teaches about the stars;
§
music teaches ratio and proportion and is
related to melody and song as it was in the Middle Ages.”[13]
The seven liberal arts was the
prime method of teaching which was utilised during the medieval period. Indeed,
to understand people of the medieval period better requires understanding these
seven subjects. These formed the foundation of education in its basic form all
the way up through universities. “During the Middle Ages, the liberal arts were
central to university education. The quadrivium
followed the preparatory work of the trivium.”[14]
Medieval and Renaissance Period
“In medieval universities the
Trivium combined with the Quadrivium comprised the seven liberal arts. This
teaching method is based on a curriculum outlined by Plato. One of the key
intentions behind applying the Trivium and the Quadrivium is to distinguish
between reality and fiction. By training the mind how to think - instead of
what to think - this method provides a teaching of the art and the science of
the mind as well as the art of the science of matter.”[15]
The ancient
Greek origins of the seven liberal arts have been previously presented, and it
is with little surprise that scholars of medieval age revered the teaching from
the ancient period, it was the same in the Renaissance. Even now we still refer
to ancient texts for some of our answers. These centres of learning did not
teach by rote what the student was to learn, thus what to think, they taught
the student how to think. They were more interested in producing individuals
who could think for themselves. It is of little surprise that with such
educational foundations that the Renaissance would come about. However, the
liberal arts changed, due to a different approach.
“These were opposed in the
Renaissance by Petrarch and others, and a new humanistic form of Liberal Arts
emerged which included the whole range of the arts. The Trivium and Quadrivium
became less central to Liberal Arts over the next few hundred years, to be
replaced by different models of Liberal Arts education.”[16]
[1]
Wikipedia (2019) “Liberal arts” in Wikipedia, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
[2]
ibid.
[3]
ibid.
[4]
Liberal Arts Online (2020) “Trivium and Quadrivium” in Modern Liberal Arts, https://liberalarts.online/trivium-and-quadrivium/,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
[5]
ibid.
[6]
ibid.
[7]
Matrixwissen (2020) “The 7 Liberal Arts - Trivium, Quadrivium and Logical
Fallacies” in Matrixwissen, https://www.matrixwissen.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=845:the-7-liberal-arts-trivium-quadrivium-and-logical-fallacies-en&catid=208&lang=en&Itemid=242&responsivizer_template=responsivizer,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
[8]
These are presented in Appendix 1.
[9]
Liberal Arts Online (2020)
[10]
Matrixwissen (2020)
[11]
Wikipedia (2019)
[12]
Matrixwissen (2020)
[13]
Wikipedia (2019)
[14]
ibid.
[15]
Matrixwissen (2020)
[16]
Liberal Arts Online (2020)
Bibliography
Liberal Arts Online (2020) “Trivium and Quadrivium” in
Modern Liberal Arts, https://liberalarts.online/trivium-and-quadrivium/,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
Matrixwissen (2020) “The 7 Liberal Arts - Trivium,
Quadrivium and Logical Fallacies” in Matrixwissen, https://www.matrixwissen.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=845:the-7-liberal-arts-trivium-quadrivium-and-logical-fallacies-en&catid=208&lang=en&Itemid=242&responsivizer_template=responsivizer,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
Wikipedia (2019) “Liberal arts” in Wikipedia, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts,
[accessed 13/2/2020]
No comments:
Post a Comment