Trivium

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The Trivium ( Latin three-way ) referred to the three linguistic subjects of the seven liberal arts , which, together with the mathematical subjects of the Quadrivium, after precursors in antiquity and the early Middle Ages, formed the basic course at the high medieval universities. It consisted of the following subjects - all taught in Latin:

  • Grammar : speaking correctly formally
  • Dialectic : speaking correctly in terms of content
  • Rhetoric : speaking properly and clearly

You can get an impression of the specific contents of these subjects e.g. B. from the Etymologiae of Isidore of Seville (completed around 630 AD) .

To the subject of grammar

The word grammar comes from the Greek γράμμα gramma , "written, letter", and means " reading and writing ". This word was first used by Dionysius Thrax [conceptually] as a linguistic and literary science, since Priscianus again essentially restricted to the teaching [...] of syntax (de constructione). "The subject grammar was about linguistically correct speaking according to the rules of the Latin language.

To the subject dialectics (with logic)

The word dialectic , like the word dialogue, comes from the Greek διαλέγεσθαι dialegesthai with the basic meaning "talk". Accordingly, in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, dialectics meant διαλεκτική dialektiké "the art of (sensible) conversation" for the purpose of convincing others of an opinion. This term included methods of reasoning as well as what is now known as logic .

The term “dialectic” has its origin in forms of clarification of terms and argumentative evidence in Socrates (Socratic dialogues) and Plato . Plato uses correct words “in addition to questions of the theory of definition, also (on) basic concepts of logic such as truth and falsehood, imperative inference and contradiction”. With Aristotle “the first systematic development of formal-logical questions can be found”. He "makes the fallacies of the sophists the central theme of dialectics". Plato saw dialectics as the endeavor to "lead an insightful interlocutor through conceptual clarification from appearances to ideas".

Thus " logic (and) rhetoric [...] are the most important auxiliary sciences of dialectics" in order to convince others of an opinion.

To the subject of rhetoric

The word rhetoric comes from the Greek ῥητορική (τέχνη) rhētorikḗ (téchnē) and means "oratory, eloquence, oratory technique". It was about the way dialectical arguments were put forward to convince others. "The fundamental difference between dialectics and rhetoric lies [...] in the area of ​​application of the arguments". The "dialectic examines its objects in the continuous alternation of question and answer", for example in political or philosophical argumentation, the "rhetoric in the context of monological speech". As a teaching system “rhetoric was first introduced in the 5th century BC. Traceable in Sicily ”. This teaching referred “exclusively to the court speech”, which divided the speech into introduction (Prooimion), main part (agon) and afterword (epilogue), “whereby in the main part the presentation of the case is based on the actual evidence as the place of evidence plausible reasons ".

"Trivium" and "trivial"

The adjective “ trivial ” is derived from Trivium , which refers to the content of the Trivium in the context of educational history, but has otherwise meant “generally accessible, well-known, common, common” since ancient times.

See also

literature

  • Gordontzi Leff: The trivium and the three philosophies . In: Walter Rüegg (Hrsg.): History of the University in Europe . Volume I: Middle Ages. Beck, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-406-36952-9 , pp. 279-302 .
  • The encyclopedia of Isidore of Seville . Marixverlag, Wiesbaden 2008 (translated by Lenelotte Möller), therein “Book” I and II (pp. 19–122), ISBN 978-3-86539-177-3 .
  • Rupert Lay , Dialectics for Managers. Practice in the art of persuasion, Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH 1976, 680- ISBN 3-499-169-79-7 (with ancient and medieval explanations)

Web links

Wiktionary: Trivium  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

swell

  1. ↑ Jürgen Mittelstraß, Grammar, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (Ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 1, Stuttgart 2004, 807
  2. ↑ Christian Thiel, Logic, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 2, Stuttgart 2004, 692
  3. ↑ Christian Thiel, Logic, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 2, Stuttgart 2004, 692
  4. ^ Oswald Schwemmer, Dialektik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 1, Verlag JB Metzler 2004, 663
  5. ↑ Oswald Schwemmer, Dialektik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 1, Stuttgart 2004, 663
  6. ^ Rupert Lay , Dialectics for Managers. Practice in the art of persuasion, Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH 1982 (6), 9
  7. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  8. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  9. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  10. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  11. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  12. ↑ Carl F. Gehtmann, Rhetorik, in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (ed.), Encyclopedia Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Volume 3, Stuttgart 2004, 615
  13. ↑ Lemma "trivialis" in Georges .