Vergerius Paper 4 - Essay PDF

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Julie Schaefer Dr. Lisa Toland Humanities World Civilizations 19 April 2013

Liberal Learning: Vergerius In The New Education, Vergerius defined the liberal studies as those “by which we attain and practice virtue and wisdom; that education which calls forth, trains and develops those highest gifts of body and of mind which ennoble men1.” Specific examples of the liberal studies according to Vergerius are History, Philosophy, Eloquence2, the art of Letters, Rhetoric, Logic, Poetry3, the study of Nature (Arithmetic and Geometry)4, and professional disciplines such as Medicine, Law, and Theology5. Becoming learned in these areas aids in the ideal purpose of liberal learning, which is to be a useful citizen of the State. “For we allow that soundness of judgment, wisdom of speech, and integrity of conduct are the marks of a truly liberal temper6,” states Vergerius. If learned properly, these foundational values found within the liberal arts of History, Philosophy, and Eloquence can be applied to the goal of usefulness to one’s State. Soundness of judgment is useful to both a scholar and a statesman7 because of logical and valid reasoning within any type of social setting or conversation. Wisdom of speech is necessary to anyone of reputable means who are required to use discretion in every day situations, especially those who represent others of higher rank. Integrity of conduct builds trust in relationships and consistency in values. Vergerius believed that “a finely tempered nature is thwarted by circumstances8,” so it was important that young people learned these values early on so as to accumulate a better understanding of usefulness.

1 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 1 2 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 3 3 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 3-4 4 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 4 5 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 4 6 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 3 7 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 3 8 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 1

The art of Letters is perhaps the most important of all of the liberal studies. According to Vergerius, it is the “foundation on which the whole study of Literature must rest9.” Being learned in the art of Letters and Literature supplies a person with an incorruptible resource of historical knowledge that aids in finding the key to the future10. This kind of knowledge is important to being fluent with the past and inner-workings of the State; how the country has formed to what it is now, what strategies that were used by the achievers11 of past decades, and how society has changed over the years. Vergerius thought that even a thorough learning of one of the liberal arts was an achievement of a lifetime12. And, although studying the liberal arts depends on “the character of individual minds13”, it is important to note that, if each person in the world chooses only one of the liberal arts to study, then the whole of the state would be a higher functioning organism with more balanced capabilities. Studying one or more of the liberal arts ranks anyone higher in importance to the State because of the significance that liberal studies holds on the development of what the State could, or should, turn out to be.

9 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 3 10 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 2 11 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 2 12 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 4 13 Vergerius, The New Education, (Cambridge University Press), 4...