A Gentleman's Introduction To The Seven Liberal Arts

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A Gentlemans Introduction To The

Seven Liberal Arts Return Of Kings
Max RoscoeMarch 25, 2016
The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations were periods of rapid

cultural growth and advancement. Over two thousand years ago,
these cultures developed an education system that persisted until
the 20th century. Known as the liberal arts, they were the essential
tools a free person (from the Latin liberalis: worthy of a free
person) must know to become a functioning member of society.
The importance of a liberal arts education was known from before

the time of Christ until the turn of the 20th century. While modern
democracy is a failed institution, especially in contrast
with benevolent monarchy, it is possible that with a well educated
populace, democracy could work. The liberal arts represented this
basic level of education, and comprised seven different fields,
which will be briefly examined here.
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The Seven Liberal Arts, Giovanni di ser Giovanni Guidi (1406-1486)
The liberal arts can be traced to Plato, who thoroughly prescribed

them in perhaps his most famous work, The Republic. Platos most
famous student, Aristotle, stated that an educated man should be
capable of considering and investigating any idea or concept
thoroughly without necessarily embracing or dismissing it. Seneca
the Younger, a Roman Stoic philosopher who lived from 4 BC to 65
AD, and advisor to Emperor Nero, was a strong advocate of the
liberal arts.
The Stoics, founded in the 3rd century BC in Athens, believed in a

rational outlook on life, that harmful emotions stem from errors in
judgment and reasoning, and stressed the importance of
maintaining a will in accord with nature, and that ones actions
should be judged more importantly than ones speech. Logic was
an important component of a successful man, and virtue consists
in a will that is in agreement with nature. In the realm of
interpersonal relationships, one is stressed to be free from anger,
envy, and jealousy.
The liberal arts also were emphasized heavily in Hellenistic Greece,

described as the enkuklios paideia or education in a circle. They
were divided into four scientific artsmusic, arithmetic, geometry,
and astronomy, and three humanitiesgrammar, logic, and
rhetoric. These were divided into two main groups: The Trivium,
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representing the three humanities, was taught first as a framework

for observing and understanding what the five senses of sight,
sound, taste, touch, and smell were perceiving.
The Quadrivium was the upper division and included the four
scientific arts. Together, the seven liberal arts represent the thinking
skills, and served as a basis for the education of all. Those who
wished to specialize would first obtain an education in the liberal
arts before proceeding to the practical arts (medicine, architecture)
or other fields such as philosophy or theology.
The purpose of learning the arts is to train the mind how to think (as
opposed to what to think). By combining the seven liberal arts with
the five senses, one can distinguish between reality and fiction.
This can be visually represented with a Pythagorean triangle.
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The Humanities (The Trivium)
The Trivium (literally, the place where three roads meet), known as
the elementary three, represent the basic tools needed and was
taught before the Quadrivium. The word trivia (tri=3 via=road)
comes directly from the trivium. The trivium includes General
Grammar, Formal Logic, and Rhetoric. While technically simpler
than the more advanced subjects in the Quadrivium, many flaws in
logic and reasoning can be traced back to failure to adequately
learn the basics found in the Trivium.
Grammar is the systematic method of gathering raw data and

ordering the facts of reality into a consistent body of knowledge.
Grammar includes the mechanics of language, properly identifying
and describing information perceived by the five senses.
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Logic or Dialectic is the mechanics of thought and analysis, the

process of identifying fallacies or errors in reasoning, and removing
contradictions.
Rhetoric or Wisdom is the application of language in order to

persuade.
[1] General
[2] Formal Logic [3] Classical Rhetoric
Grammar
Answers the
question of the
Who, What, Answers the Why of a Provides the How of a
Where, and the subject. subject.
When of a
subject.
Applying knowledge and
Discovering and Developing the faculty of
understanding
ordering facts of reason in establishing
expressively comprises
reality valid [i.e.,
wisdom or, in other
comprises non-contradictory]
words, it is
basic, relationships among
systematically useable
systematic facts is systematic
knowledge and
knowledge. understanding.
understanding.
The Scientific Arts (The Quadrivium)
The scientific arts include music, arithmetic, geometry, and

astronomy. After learning the basic skills of the Trivium, which are
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applicable to all other studies, the scientific arts known as the

Quadrivium would be studied. The Quadrivium place where four
roads meet include arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
Arithmetic is the study of the number, a pure abstraction outside of

space and time. It is the study of quantities.
Geometry is a number in space, the study of magnitude at rest.
Music is a number in time; the application of the theory of numbers.

It is the study of the relations between quantities.
Astronomy is a number in space and time. It is the study of

magnitude inherently moving.
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The Seven Combined
Grammar = Knowledge = What?
Logic = Reason = Why?
Rhetoric = Communication = How?
Arithmetic = Formal = Do
Geometry = Visual = See
Music = Artistic = Feel
Astronomy= Exploration = Seek
By developing these basic skills, men would have the basic tools
they needed to live a fulfilling and satisfying life, and to explore their
emotions, dreams, ambitions, and desires.
Two Thousand Years Of Liberal Arts
In ancient Greece, all free men were expected to obtain a basic

liberal arts education. Women received a limited public education
which focused on physical fitness, how to sing, dance, and play
instruments. These were not seen as childish endeavors but
indeed a strict and formal education system was established that
provided a complementary, but important role in society, a foil to the
men who were trained in logic and reason.
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In the 17th and 18th centuries, the entirety of human knowledge

was consolidated into a series of volumes known as the
encyclopedia which translates as complete instruction or
complete knowledge. Almost every major culture over the past
2,000 years has adopted the seven liberal arts. The Fellowcraft
Degree commands all Freemasons to study them, and indeed
much of Freemasonry is based upon principles found in the seven.
Today
Yale University, R.I.P. 1701-2016
Today, a liberal arts education is no longer even available at

so-called liberal arts schools. The wisdom found in the seven
basic liberal arts is the basis of every major civilization and
advancement since before Christ. Only in the last few decades has
this system been decimated.
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In the image from Yale above, we can clearly see failures of the
very first lesson of grammar. Without understanding grammar, no
further education can be learned. The internet offers a vast array of
knowledge to almost every person alive today. While our institutions
may have failed us, a neomasculine man must develop his mind, as
well as his body, and I encourage all to study the liberal arts.
Perhaps we will examine these subjects in further detail in future

articles.
Read More: My Education Was a Complete Waste of Time
9 of 9 10/8/17 11:58 PM

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A Gentlemans Introduction To The Seven Liberal Arts Return Of... about:reader?url=http://www.returnofkings.com/83224/a-gentlemans...

A Gentlemans Introduction To The

The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations were periods of rapid

The importance of a liberal arts education was known from before

The Seven Liberal Arts, Giovanni di ser Giovanni Guidi (1406-1486)

The liberal arts can be traced to Plato, who thoroughly prescribed

The Stoics, founded in the 3rd century BC in Athens, believed in a

The liberal arts also were emphasized heavily in Hellenistic Greece,

representing the three humanities, was taught first as a framework

The Humanities (The Trivium)

Grammar is the systematic method of gathering raw data and

Logic or Dialectic is the mechanics of thought and analysis, the

Rhetoric or Wisdom is the application of language in order to

The Scientific Arts (The Quadrivium)

The scientific arts include music, arithmetic, geometry, and

applicable to all other studies, the scientific arts known as the

Arithmetic is the study of the number, a pure abstraction outside of

Geometry is a number in space, the study of magnitude at rest.

Music is a number in time; the application of the theory of numbers.

Astronomy is a number in space and time. It is the study of

The Seven Combined

Grammar = Knowledge = What?

Logic = Reason = Why?

Rhetoric = Communication = How?

Geometry = Visual = See

Music = Artistic = Feel

Astronomy= Exploration = Seek

Two Thousand Years Of Liberal Arts

In ancient Greece, all free men were expected to obtain a basic

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the entirety of human knowledge

Yale University, R.I.P. 1701-2016

Today, a liberal arts education is no longer even available at

Perhaps we will examine these subjects in further detail in future

Read More: My Education Was a Complete Waste of Time

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