The term “cardinal art” refers to the seven liberal arts that were studied in medieval universities. These seven liberal arts were divided into the trivium and the quadrivium.
The Trivium
The trivium consisted of three subjects: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. These three subjects were considered essential preparatory studies for more advanced learning.
Grammar
Grammar included the study of language and literature. Students would read and interpret important texts and poems while learning about proper language usage. This emphasis on grammar was rooted in medieval beliefs about language itself. The structure of language was thought to mirror the divine order of the universe.
Logic
Logic was the study of valid reasoning and argumentation. It aimed to equip students with tools for clear thinking and detecting logical fallacies. The study of logic dates back to ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle. Medieval logicians expanded on these ideas and created elaborate logical systems. Logic provided the reasoning skills needed for philosophical inquiry and debates.
Rhetoric
Rhetoric focused on the effective use of language to inform or persuade others. Students would study techniques for composition and public speaking. Rhetoric gave students oral and written communication skills that were valued in law, politics, and theology. The ability to speak and write well was necessary for advancing ideas and influencing society.
The Quadrivium
After mastering the trivium, students could proceed to the more challenging quadrivium. This consisted of four mathematical subjects: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
Arithmetic
Arithmetic covered basic mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, proportions, and monetary calculations. These practical math skills were needed for business, architecture, accounting, and other fields. Arithmetic provided the foundation for more theoretical mathematics.
Geometry
Geometry involved the study of shapes, spatial relationships, areas, volumes, and distances. This subject originated from the fields of surveying and astronomy. Medieval geometers built upon the work of ancient Greek mathematicians like Euclid. Geometry provided the tools to represent and quantify the physical world.
Music
Music included the study of musical notation, intervals, scales, and harmony. Medieval thinkers believed music reflected the harmony of the cosmos. The study of music was closely connected to mathematics by examining the numerical relationships behind musical intervals. This mathematical analysis of music would later develop into an entire field of study.
Astronomy
Astronomy was the study of the stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. Medieval astronomers studied astronomical tables and models created by ancient Greeks, Indians, and Arabs. Astronomy was connected to theology as people contemplated humanity’s place within the grand universe created by God. Astronomical calculations were also vital for devising calendars and navigation systems.
Purpose of the Cardinal Arts
So in summary, the seven cardinal arts were:
| Trivium | Quadrivium |
| Grammar | Arithmetic |
| Logic | Geometry |
| Rhetoric | Music |
| Astronomy |
These arts comprised the medieval curriculum and served several purposes:
– They were considered preparatory studies for higher learning in theology, philosophy, and science. The trivium developed critical thinking skills while the quadrivium focused on quantitative reasoning.
– They prepared students for careers in law, politics, teaching, and the church by building their oral and written communication abilities. Logic, rhetoric, and grammar were especially applicable to these fields.
– They aimed to cultivate virtue and wisdom in students. By studying the structure of language, reasoning, and the universe, students could better understand and appreciate God’s creation.
– They maintained connections to the classical past and the seven liberal arts established in ancient Greek and Roman schools. The medieval curriculum preserved this classical intellectual heritage.
So in medieval society, the cardinal arts represented the pathway to becoming a learned person. They imparted fundamental skills, knowledge, and virtues through an educational system that endured for centuries. The seven liberal arts remain influential today as the ancestors of modern subjects like literature, mathematics, music, logic, and astronomy.
Trivium vs Quadrivium
The trivium and quadrivium were closely connected components of the cardinal arts, but there were some key differences between the two groups:
| Trivium | Quadrivium | |
|---|---|---|
| Fields of Study | Language, discourse, reasoning | Mathematics, astronomy, music |
| Subject Matter | Grammar, logic, rhetoric | Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music |
| Methods | Linguistic analysis, logic, composition | Calculation, spatial reasoning, observation |
| Skills Developed | Reading, writing, critical thinking, persuasion | Numeracy, measurement, cosmology |
Summary of Differences:
– The trivium focused on language skills, discourse, and reasoning whereas the quadrivium focused on mathematical subjects.
– The trivium developed skills like reading comprehension, writing, and argumentation. The quadrivium improved calculation, spatial reasoning, and observation.
– The trivium was more applicable to spoken and written communication. The quadrivium provided the quantitative tools for science, architecture, music, and navigation.
– The trivium came first in the medieval curriculum as it provided the foundation for quadrivium study.
So in summary, the cardinal arts blended language with science, words with numbers, and communication with computation. Mastering both the trivium and quadrivium gave medieval students a comprehensive liberal arts education.
History of the Cardinal Arts
The history of the seven liberal arts spans many centuries and civilizations:
– In ancient Greece, the artes liberales originally referred to the subjects suitable for free citizens, as opposed to slaves who performed manual labor. These subjects included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
– In ancient Rome, the liberal arts were adapted to the Roman education system and formed the basis of general preparation for more advanced study. Grammar, rhetoric, and logic made up the liberal arts curriculum.
– In the early Middle Ages, educational authority was transferred from secular institutions to the church. Cathedral schools and monasteries taught an expanded set of seven liberal arts.
– Throughout the medieval period, universities adopted the seven liberal arts schema consisting of the trivium and quadrivium. This became the standard medieval curriculum.
– In the Renaissance, the emphasis began shifting back toward the classical Greek model of only grammar, rhetoric, and logic making up the liberal arts. The quadrivium disciplines became more specialized.
– In modern times, the liberal arts have come to mean a general, humanities-based college education in the arts, humanities and sciences. Many colleges have a “College of Liberal Arts” that provides core general education to complement more specialized degrees.
So over history, the liberal arts have evolved from their seven medieval subjects to today’s more expansive notion of broad-based learning combining humanities and science. But the medieval cardinal arts established the organizational framework that has influenced education for centuries.
Decline of the Cardinal Arts
The cardinal arts began a slow decline in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance due to several factors:
– The humanist movement in education preferred an updated curriculum based on studying ancient Greek and Latin literature in their original languages. Teaching method moved from scholasticism to an emphasis on rhetoric, history, and ethics.
– The rise of universities diminished the monopoly of the seven liberal arts. New specialized fields arose including medicine, law, and theology. These required expertise beyond the preparatory arts.
– The rediscovery of classical mathematical and scientific texts revealed gaps in the medieval quadrivium. This led scholars to develop new mathematical ideas and experimental methods rather than relying on past astronomical models and Euclidean geometry alone.
– Vernacular languages gained status and the trivium arts based in Latin language and literature became less relevant outside the church.
– Printing spread new learning and challenged the intellectual authority of the old fixed curriculum of seven arts. Humanism and science offered new paths to knowledge.
– Economic and statecraft needs required practical mathematical skills like algebra, double-entry bookkeeping, mechanics and surveying. The abstract quadrivium proved insufficient.
So in summary, intellectual changes driven by humanism, universities, science, vernacular languages, printing and commercial needs all contributed to the unraveling and decline of the medieval cardinal arts by the 16th century. But they succeeded in formalizing the study of key fields we still recognize today like literature, mathematics, astronomy, and music.
Revival of the Classical Arts
While the seven liberal arts waned in formal status after the Middle Ages, the 20th century witnessed a revival of interest in classical learning, great books, and liberal education. This included a fresh look at the medieval cardinal arts:
– Dorothy Sayers wrote an influential essay “The Lost Tools of Learning” in 1947 proposing a return to the structure of the trivium to enhance modern education. This sparked interest in classical and medieval educational approaches.
– Mortimer J. Adler published “The Paideia Proposal” in 1982 advocating a renewed emphasis on developing intellectual virtues through structured liberal education guided by great books.
– Some charter schools, home schools and online learning programs have adopted elements of the classical trivium model. These integrate grammar, logic and rhetoric across the curriculum to develop analytical and expressive skills.
– Conservative groups and traditional educators have promoted classical education using medieval scholastic methods and liberal arts reading lists while resisting modern educational theories and content. This has links to the homeschooling movement.
– Liberal arts colleges emphasize wide-ranging general education before specialization. While not strictly following the medieval model, these schools preserve the interdisciplinary spirit of the seven liberal arts tradition.
So while not widely instituted today, the medieval framework of the seven liberal arts has continued to influence modern educational reform movements seeking restored rigor, coherence, and intellectual training based on reading seminal texts of the Western canon. The cardinal arts persist as an ideal, if not a reality, in some circles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the cardinal arts were the seven liberal arts of the medieval university curriculum, spanning the trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric and the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. These subjects developed intellectual skills, prepared students for advanced learning, and aligned with Christian theology. The cardinal arts played an enduring role by formalizing key fields of knowledge like literature, mathematics, harmony, and cosmology. Through subsequent educational transformations, the ideal of a coherent liberal arts education has survived even as the specific trivium and quadrivium content evolved. The cardinal arts created a model of structured learning and the pursuit of knowledge that remains influential today.
