On the Nature of the Classical Liberal Arts

Considering that the nature of the human being does not change, and that God made the world of created things as a constant means to lead to Himself, it is no surprise that the liberal arts contain a core, unchanging content. To understand the principles that direct their own cognitive faculties, humans must study the rules of language, thought, and persuasion (Trivium). To understand the root characteristics of the material world, humans must study the principles God uses in ordering creation, knowledge about creation that flows from these principles, and man’s place in creation (Quadrivium). The classical liberal arts are the necessary intellectual prerequisite habits for humanity living in a material world to understand the nature of that world, the human soul, and God.