- Rhetoric
- Grammar
- Logic
- Astronomy
- Arithmetic
- Geometry
- Music
For an alternative take, consider the Chinese 6 arts
- Archery
- Chariot
- Music of China
- Li (Confucianism)
- Chinese calligraphy
- Chinese mathematics
Alternatively: 1) Propriety, 2) Music, 3) Archery, 4) Driving, 5) Composition, 6) Mathematics
Among the Persians the virtues were: "Ride, shoot straight, and speak truth"
Hmm. It looks like the trivium/quadrivium has some implicit assumptions about what else the student has learned, easy to spot by comparison with the others. Plato wanted lots of PE, and careful attention to the poetry and music taught to make sure the proper virtues were promoted. Plato's not our best guide, though -- some of his suggestions have been tried and found wanting.
If you replace mere astronomy with introductions to science/technology, and round out the Western liberal arts with the missing Propriety/Philosophy, Driving, and Shooting you get a better base. Add on history and you get someone less easily led astray by fashionable nonsense: more of the ideal gentleman.
How do I do as a gentleman? I like to think that I do fine in "propriety/speaking truth", and in writing and math and science/technology. Music -- not so well, but I do sing in choir sometimes (they're desperate). My driving is still a bit better than average (they taught us courteous driving) but not superb, my shooting is mediocre, and I'm downright lousy in gymnastics or racing.
7 comments:
Fun exercise, with real consequences. I think of the physical skills as methods of self-mastery. Those listed also have some practical advantage both to oneself and family for food and defense, as well as the tribe in general. Riding and chariot include also the mastery of a horse. Calligraphy also requires calming and focusing the self. Music or drawing teaches the same as well as beauty and structure. Rhetoric involves understanding others and how to persuade them. There's self-mastery again in that. Mathematics teaches both pure reason and practical use.
The sciences teach us observation and seeing truths beyond the immediate. I would be tempted to toss Grammar, but Plato is using it in a broad sense here of understanding the structure of communication and being clear.
A gentleman is defined, as noted in Lord Blackstone's commentaries, as "one qui arma gerit" -- one who bears arms. That means the study of heraldry, for the arms he meant were symbolic; but also the practice of actual arms, the ancient root that the symbols can never adequately replace.
You rightly cite the Persians. It is worth remembering that the West divided its leadership in a way the Chinese never did, putting second and later sons into the academy. The first-born were for the knighthood; the latter could then be men of peace.
I'm looking at this question from the perspective of judging my granddaughter's current 'boyfriends' qualities. We'll take the classical western liberal arts plus "Ride, shoot straight, and speak truth".
It's "propriety" where the two differ. One of them does meet current, if not exactly conventional, standards of propriety while the other meets both... which makes him seem a bit rigid. I can't quite bring myself to trust the one who only meets the current standards of propriety. Yet, I want to tell the other one to 'loosen up' or... perhaps be patient.
Overall, it's a Renaissance Man I want for her. So, I'll take "all of the above", please. And count my blessings that she's got at least two in pursuit of her who mostly qualify and that she is in no big hurry to make a choice.
That substantially changes the criteria, doesn't it? "What is the best kind of man?" is a different question from "What is the best kind of man for a woman?" It would be surprising if the answer turned out to be the same; that it has, in general, almost serves as an adequate proof of God.
Eh, perhaps it does. Maybe I should be looking at what a student should learn to become a lady?
Now that’s a question I haven’t heard anyone ask in a long time.
Thinking of this off and on... Most should be desired of a lady. The Chinese mention of artistry and athleticism are good. What I notice lacking is craftmanship -- the ability to build shelter or construct a garment. Or weapons and armor.
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