Description
What place should the study of mathematics have in classical education? Most classical schools rightly emphasize the linguistic arts of the trivium—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—but few have thought through (much less implemented) the mathematical arts of the quadrivium—arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy—in a meaningful way. This is not to say, of course, that classical schools do not study mathematics; rather, it is simply to point out that the classical liberal arts of mathematics have little, if any, influence on the way mathematics is considered and taught in most classical schools. Are these quadrivial arts, in contrast to those of the trivium, simply outmoded today? If so, why? If not, how might they inspire and be incorporated into the curricula of classical schools? In order to answer these questions, we must first begin by getting a clear sense of what the quadrivial arts are, as well as what they are not. To do so, we will turn to Plato’s Republic, one of the fountainheads of education in the Western tradition.
Scholarships are available to cover (part of) the tuition fee. Lees hier meer over onze beurzen.
Material used in class
Euclid. Elements. Translated by Thomas L. Heath. Edited by Dana Densmore. Santa Fe, NM: Green Lion Press, 2003.
Plato. Timaeus. Translated by Peter Kalkavage. Focus Philosophical Library Series. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, R. Pullins Company, 2001.
Boethius. The Consolation of Philosophy. Edited by Scott Goins and Barbara H. Wyman. Ignatius Critical Editions. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2012.
Caldecott, Stratford. Beauty for Truth’s Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009.
FAQ
Advanced students. Recently graduated or professional: you are very welcome too.
Dr. Andrew Seeley and dr. Jeffrey Lehman. Both are affiliated with the Boethius Institute.
€1.593. Talented candidates can apply for a scholarship, if they can submit proof that they have obtained very high academic standards. Participants should also provide a short explanation of why they need a scholarship to cover the tuition fee. Scholarships are available that cover 50, 75 or 100 percent of the tuition fee.
When does this course take place?
In the week of October 2nd, there will be four days of classes consecutively; from then onwards, there will be two weekly tutorials online, from 16:00 to 17:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. These will take place between October and December 2023.
What do I receive after this course?
If you take this class as a non-master student, you can receive a certificate.
Online Posts
For one or more of the readings assigned for each class session, students are responsible for posting comments or questions online. These comments or questions should pertain immediately to the reading(s), but they may be of various kinds. For example, questions about the meaning of a particular passage in the reading are certainly welcome, as are comments that help the student (and perhaps other students in the course) see connections within a reading or between readings. In addition to submitting your own post, each time you are required to respond briefly to at least one post made by a fellow student. Initial posts should be between 100 and 150 words to receive credit. Replies to others’ posts may be brief.
Reading Outlines
For most of the reading assignments, students are to prepare outlines (or detailed reading notes) based upon the readings. Such outlines will help students stay current on the material and also will promote better understanding of the readings and participation in the class discussions. The structure of the outline is up to the student, but all outlines must be clear, orderly, and comprehensive for each reading for which an outline is assigned. In order to receive credit, each outline must be completed prior to the class session for which the reading was assigned. All outlines will be submitted for grading at the time of the final exam.
Classroom discussion
All class sessions will be conducted as “seminars,” or Socratic conversations. Students are expected to actively participate in the discussion for the duration of each class session.
Final Exam
Students will complete a cumulative final exam at the end of the course.
The deadline is 10 September 2023, 17:00. Before 18 September 2023, 17:00 you will hear from us whether you can enroll or not.
