Opening the Gate to Wisdom: The Ancient Trivium

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

We live in an age of information beyond the wildest imaginings of those living just 100 years ago. We're adjusting as best we can, but we're in new territory and largely flying by the seat of our pants. And yet, a practical and wholly relevant method for accumulating, correlating and applying information has been handed down to us from well-over 1,000 years ago, in the form of the ancient Trivium method of education.

The number of times I've heard someone express the sentiment, "People don't know how to think!" would be impossible to count. But upon closer inspection, it raises the question, "Why should they?" After all, the general culture isn't exactly peddling high philosophy. Do you recall anyone ever sitting you down and explaining to you how to think? We do it all the time, so we just take for granted that we're doing it right.

In our high-tech environment, there's so much information bombarding our brains, it's more important than ever to earnestly consider the question, "How does one actually think properly?" This will assure that we're navigating the swirling storm of 1's and 0's deftly and with confidence, so we can use that information to the greatest possible effect.

There's a big difference between assuming something is right, and actually knowing whether it's right or wrong, and most importantly, why. We create our world. Our actions matter. Not only to our own lives, but to the lives of others. It behooves us to spend some time making sure that the primary tool we use to guide our lives is giving us all it's got to give. That tool is the mind, and the Trivium tells us how to use it.

The following is a basic primer on the Trivium. It forms the basis for how to think critically and apply sound knowledge in practice. It is comprised of three subjects, each representing a step in this all-important process:

• KNOWLEDGE: Also known as "grammar", this step is raw data collection; the input stage. Here, we're defining and cataloging information. Success in this area requires that we have an open mind. Contrary to a common misconception, an open mind does not mean accepting new ideas as valid. It merely means that all information is permitted to pass into the next stage of the process; neither gaining automatic admittance into our belief system, nor being blocked at the door due to preconceived notions.

• UNDERSTANDING: Also known as "logic", this is the step of evaluation; the processing stage. Building associations, recognizing patterns, determining validity through reason and logical consistency... This is where we separate wheat from chaff, and decide which ideas are worthy of admitting into our worldview or belief system. It is the process of establishing principles which will guide our further thought, and behavior.

• WISDOM: Also known as "rhetoric", this step is the application of valid conclusions; the output stage. Though many equate the word "wisdom" with deep understanding, it is actually the implementation of that understanding, via the actions that result from that discernment. This step requires the commitment and courage to act in accordance with the experience and understanding gained in the previous two steps.

This method forms the foundation for sound judgement and right action. It requires an earnest effort, being willing to evaluate honestly, accept truth even where it conflicts with previously-held positions, and bring our perspective into better alignment with what we discover. It also requires courage; to employ our understanding in our own lives, and to share what we've learned with others.

That's what most of us here are trying to do, and I hope I've contributed to those efforts with this information. There's more to the Trivium than what we've discussed here. You can visit the Trivium Education website to go further, but try keeping this process in mind while you're reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or talking to people. It gives us a method by which to sort through the madness, and we can use all the help we can get!

Thanks for checking in!
Brian Blackwell