Tools of Precision Thinking - Trivium Method; True Learning. The 7 Ancient & Noble Liberal Arts
Our modern life is littered with clashing ideas and ideologies, with perspectives oft shifting dramatically with single events or thoughts. People are influenced by culture, race, geography, religion, science, and, to be thorough, ignorance. A single meme can inspire, trigger, change one’s world view.
Yet at the heart of it all people just want a good life, to be happy and secure.
There are simple formats for allowing one’s mind to consider diverse
ideas without being pulled one way or the other prior to fully
comprehending the vast framework within which this all sits.
Anti-intellectualism is on the rise, where being banal and superficial
allows one to meld homogeneously with the crowds. There is a definite,
intentional dumbing down through schooling and media, where the
fundamental tenets of culture such as the sciences and the arts are
replaced by style and stupidity based on ego and impulse.
Rather than conforming to the general decline in consciousness one may
apply fundamental rules of thought to master one’s grasp of reality,
find balance in the cacophony of sensory input our modern world spews
forth, and cogitate one’s way forward into higher states of mind!
In our modern society we constantly experience the clash of ideas and
ideologies, distractions and diversions. People are so sure of
themselves that they needlessly and thoughtlessly bring emotion into
arguments, rather than just allowing cool-headed logic to assess facts
and factors. People are so uncultured they act as though argumentation
implies emotive response!
And we won’t even bring up politics or religion!
People are so enamored by their self-centered viewpoints that they are
unable to comprehend that other perspectives may offer some validity,
even if to properly understand a situation. Information is refused on
the basis of source or difference from opinions held, regardless of its
validity. Logical fallacies are taken as fact, allowing one to remain
smug in their ignorance.
“Conspiracy theory” is one such convenient tool to insulate oneself from
the overwhelming truth which stretches far beyond the average human’s
paradigm; a hypnotic command to stifle analytic and acquisitive
functions of consciousness.
Naturally there is hope, there is always a way forward. The answer is
always at hand, even if we are unable to see it in our present state.
Following are some insights and perspectives to allow your mind to
expand naturally. They are yours to use freely, there is no law against
thinking… yet!
Do the Unthinkable – Think!
3 Precision Tools to Perfect Thinking (Trivium)
The Trivium is a process of systematic critical thinking utilized in
freeing (liberating) oneself to analyze reality properly from the input
of the Five Senses.
The 3 tools are: Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric, functioning in that specific and requisite order:
Grammar: Knowledge – Who, What, Where & When; the building blocks to discerning facts of reality
Logic / Reasoning: Understanding – Why; establishing valid relationships between facts; work of logic is proof
Rhetoric: Wisdom – the application of Knowledge & Understanding; provides the How of a subject
Grammar (the who, what, where, when) is not only the mechanics of language, which is essential, but it is
also the use of the language to define information and factual knowledge
of objects we encounter in reality.
Existents (external or internal)
Grammar is the "art" of inventing and combining symbols. General grammar is the medium used for communication, like phonetics for combining sounds, spelling for combining letters, and grammar for combining words.
Establishing norms ensures a correct form of communication for all to
understand, such as the definition of words for everyone to agree upon
its meaning. Something is perceived (in objective reality or subjective
imagination), and it is given a "name" through a word symbol to
communicate about it.
Logic
(the why) is the mechanics of processing the data gained through grammatical
assessment of reality, removing contradictions through identification of
false arguments and analysis of conflicting data, thereby gaining an
understanding of the factual knowledge of reality.
Interconnection between existents
Logic is the "art" of thinking. Various things perceived are corresponded and correlated, linked and connected to combine into larger order concepts or constructs upon which to understand existence. Logic assists in directing actions through non-contradictory identification. Thinking is correct by being in equilibrium
with reality in order to arrive at various truths. Logic is used to
learn and know more about those things first perceived with grammar. To
get to the deeper substance of what it means; to validate and verify the definition and identity. Logic includes the law of non-contradiction and law of identity.
Rhetoric (the how)
is the use of language to express the knowledge and understanding of
reality, to transmit intelligence, to persuade people to a particular
perspective.
Communication about existents
Rhetoric is the "art" of communication. The last part of the Trivium uses both former aspects to communicate about those things previously perceived. Logic is the "art of arts", but rhetoric is the "master art" that culminates in the ability to effectively communicate with grammar and logic. Rhetoric has a negative meaning as well, where it can mean manipulation and deception
to simply "win" an argument through sophistry or other cunning
linguistic arts so as to convince someone of something without much
regard for the truth of the matter. This master art can be used for good
or ill will.
In simple terms we can think of this as Input => Processing => Output
We input knowledge (grammar) and process it, analyze it, filter it for contradictions (logic) to gain more understanding, then this gives us the wisdom of how to act so that we can wisely output into the world (rhetoric).
Three paths feedback within ourselves and with others. The product of
proper thinking is the objective truth, that any can verify with their
own thinking.
The three Trivium components are the first of the 7 Liberal Arts and Sciences, with the latter 4 referred to as the Quadrivium: Arithmetic (numbers), Geometry (numbers in space), Music (numbers in time/motion), Astronomy (numbers in space and time). There are more arts and sciences to learn about, but these are the four classical components of the 7 Liberal Arts.
We all feedback into the common external objective reality (existence), while individually processing what we input through our senses in our own internal subjective reality (consciousness). This is how we co-create the human world that exists as a result of our actions.
Thinking is important, it's involved in reading, writing, speaking and listening. The quality of what we read in, will affect what we think about, and possibly what we output in writing or speech. Garbage in, garbage out, as they say. The quality of the information we take in (metaphysics), and the quality of our thinking (epistemology), will guide us in the moral quality of higher, truer, realer life (ethics) we can create.
By learning about the Trivium Methodology, we learn how to think, not what to think. Standards of proper definition of terms to establish a common ground of knowledge can then be followed by critical thinking skills to correct errors in thinking, like fallacies and biases. This can be applied in any endeavor to learn or communicate. Communication gets us to the common ground of understanding something. We "come to terms" by defining the words/terms we use in order to understand each other better.
We can better understand problems or opportunities by critically defining them, and then work to creatively envision a solution or exploit. Rather than automatically accept or reject ideas based on prejudices or preconceptions, we analyze them first to determine their validity.
The Trivium Method represents the natural order of effective thinking.
It's how our psychological lives work. This is a basic functionality of
higher order consciousness that human animals possess. The degree of
functionality in this Trivium Method of thinking and processing reality
can be developed further. We walk these three paths in consciousness in order to live. Understanding
how we function -- and further developing our capacities of
consciousness -- will benefit us not only individually, but collectively
as well. With the Trivium Method we can understand more about the "arts" of mind and language.
The 7 Ancient & Noble Liberal Arts
The word “liberal” has many meanings today, but originally it simply
meant free, as in liberated. The Liberal Arts were those which a free
person required to be an active member of intelligent society.
These Arts consisted of three tools of thinking, the Trivium, being
- grammar,
- logic, and
- rhetoric,
and four fundamental sciences, the Quadrivium, being
- arithmetic,
- geometry,
- music, and
- astronomy,
as applied through our five senses.
However, these terms must be acknowledged in a much deeper sense than definitions implied by modern word usage.
It’s my thesis that most people don’t really think, they just think
they’re thinking because they’re watching their imprinted
characterological reactions in real time. We have all been programmed
genetically and mimetically since birth, run through indoctrination
centers, it’s inevitable we all have a bit of this to one degree or
another. These days more and more people appear to be programmed in
the persistent use of logical fallacies to insulate themselves from
anything beyond what their bio-structural imprints will allow them to
process.
Nonetheless, we can regain our inherent power by taking control of our own minds in precise fashion.
One esoteric symbol of the path of the ancient mystery schools is the
3,4,5 triangle theorem of Pythagoras, solvable with the non-linear
square roots.
This ancient theorem represents more than a mere math calculation. It
was a metaphor for higher roots of knowledge beyond the apparent. And
this linked it to the mystery schools where Pythagoras derived it from.
This theorem was known in the first Babylonian Dynasty, some fifteen
hundred years before the time of Pythagoras.
The deeper sense of the 3, 4, 5 triangle is of a relationship between
our five senses and how we interpret the world through the Trivium and
Quadrivium. The whole of spiritual attainment is available through this
pathway.
4 Dynamic Measures of Objective Reality (Quadrivium)
But what is objective reality? What is it that we seek to define?
The Quadrivium consists of four Arts, which consist of that which is able to be assessed through the Trivium and the Five Senses:
- Arithmetic – numbers,
- Geometry – numbers in space,
- Music – numbers in time, and
- Astronomy – numbers in space and time.
We must understand the ancient modes of consciousness to truly understand what is meant by these terms. For example Arithmetic is not merely the mechanical use of numbers, but also their qualitative aspects.
Let us take the number five (5), we can count the five fingers on our
hands or five apples in a basket. But we can also cut one of those
apples horizontally and see the pentagonal pattern:
Which is also seen in the orbital resonance of Venus with Earth:
This pattern in the apple is seen as resonant or the “signature” of Venus, which is present throughout the rose family.
This noble, higher sense of five includes the relationships of phi
(Golden Ratio) and hence five is oft spelled in the Quadrivium as “Phive”. This is what is meant by the higher sense of numbers, and is just one amongst a multitude of examples.
Quadrivium Geometry
deals with subjects such as the Platonic Solids, those geometric solids
with equal sides and faces, of which five only are able to exist in
objective reality.
Music, or harmonic analysis, is about numbers in time, the continuous in motion.
In Geometry the Platonic solids can be nested so that zero space is left
between. In Music the intervals do not fit perfectly. This gives rise
to two modes of tuning, just intonation and equal temperament.
Just intonation, or natural harmonic progression, gives rise to a
spiral, and equal temperament being developed for keyboard instruments
so they could be played equally well (or badly, as tonally sensitive
music lovers claim) while providing a fixed scale for all instruments.
Presently the later is in common use.
Astronomy
is the natural science of the observation and notation of celestial
objects. Clearly the ancients where quite up on this, seeing the field
of archeo-astronomy gaining insights wherever ancient megalithic ruins
are found around the world.
Using our Five Senses we may, out of this whole process of the 7 Liberal
Arts, reach the highest understandings of reality possible with our
biological hardware and software. Perhaps we can even achieve a grand
sense of cosmic orientation, for some even a spiritual proprioceptivity
in the realm of knowledge instead of belief.
Modern discursive consciousness, on the other hand, places an embedded
status quo logic first, before proper grammar and is therefore, by the
ancient codes, incapable of fully assessing reality properly … though the modern materialist will certainly argue they can by rejecting anything which cannot be weighed or measured.
This is not to discard the great triumphs which the scientific endeavors
of the last few centuries have brought us, but rather to place them in a
larger sense of being, one that takes life as the primary force of
existence.
Standard science holds that matter is the ground of reality and
consciousness has arisen by pure chance from that. But this assumption
is a violation of the Trivium.
The modern scientific paradigm assumes that the electrical particles
manufactured and manipulated in high energy experiments are the key
components of our experiential reality. That is a belief system, and
certainly one of arguable validity considering the mass of scientific
knowledge gained (including the equipment used to write and read this
article), yet one which is unable by its very nature to define the very
life and consciousness which drives us to understand this manifestation
we find ourselves immersed within.
The electrical particles are subsensible, beneath our senses, and thus taken as a base of reality this approach is repugnant to true progress in natural science.
Seeking the supersensible, that which is above the senses, is
the true path of natural science, for we cannot rest on the laurels of
the orthodox world if we seek to evolve intellectually and spiritually.
As Goethe said, “Every process of Nature properly understood creates a new organ of cognition in consciousness.”
Goethe’s method of training observation and thought allows us a
spiritual understanding of Nature. And this is not a spirit one must
believe in, but rather one experiences directly though raising one’s
cognitive capacity through observing natural processes.
It is our responsibility and duty as evolving souls inhabiting physical
form to continue to learn about this universe we find ourselves immersed
within. We own it to our children and to the generations that come
after them to strive for a living, natural science.
There are certainly a wide range of approaches to understanding, some
based on definable facts, some on beliefs. This is a brief overview of
just one path amongst many. It is however with certainty that by
learning and adhering to the techniques of the Seven Liberal Arts one
may gain a superior knowledge of reality whilst perfecting their
processes of thought and analysis.
