Students today are much more career-driven and likely to participate in extracurricular activities to remain competitive in the graduate jobs market. Students often take on more responsibilities and work experiences compared to the past. University is a place to meet people, make friends for life and discover new interests. Education was traditionally a tool to teach people how the learn skills in the form of the trivium. The trivium and quadrivium are powerful skills when mastered, but why don’t we hear of them? In this article we cover the value of an education and vital skills you can use.
Many students will go through a degree without paying any attention to the intended purpose of their degree, or which arts they have accumulated within their degree. In short, there are seven arts. Some civilisations kept this a secret, they called it the secret arts. Liberal arts are arts that free you. The arts are sometimes broken down into the trivium and quadrivium.
The trivium and the quadrivium were removed from western public education system well over a hundred years ago and the ancient and still current method of filtering, processing and speaking no longer is something most people possess. The Trivium is the lower foundational division of the seven liberal arts involving the study of grammar, rhetoric, and logic.
Grammar teaches the mechanics of language to the student. This is the step where the student “comes to terms,” defining the objects and information perceived by the five senses.
Logic is the procedure of thought and analysis, the process of identifying fallacious arguments and statements and methodically removing the contradictions. Logic helps to produce trustworthy knowledge with a strong basis.
Rhetoric is the application of language in order to instruct and to persuade the listener and the reader. It is the knowledge (grammar) now understood (logic) and being transmitted outwards as wisdom (rhetoric).
The Quadrivium was included in medieval curriculum and is considered preparatory work for the study of philosophy and theology. Quadrivium includes four areas: arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.
Arithmetic is the branch of mathematics where numbers and observations used to solve problems.
Geometry is the branch of mathematics relating to shapes of individual objects, spatial relationships and space.
Music is the art that combines vocal or instrumental sounds for beauty of form or emotional expression, usually according to cultural standards of rhythm, melody, and, in most Western music, harmony.
Astronomy is the science that encompasses the study of all extra-terrestrial objects and phenomena.
With the rise of technology skills in communication appear to be on the decline. With increased amounts of information and content in today’s information age, the challenge is to retain the skills required to acquire knowledge. The medieval studies including the trivium and quadrivium is essential for individuals to learn. It is no surprise why many of the elite universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, maintain the traditions.