The Seven Liberal Arts

These arts of reading, writing, and reckoning have formed the traditional basis of liberal education. Historically the mastery of the liberal arts is widely recognized as the best preparation for work in professional schools, such as those of medicine, law, engineering, or theology - professions that serves others in a professional or other capacity. The degree bachelor of arts is awarded to those who demonstrate the requisite proficiency in these arts, and the degree master of arts, to those who have demonstrated a greater proficiency.

Utilitarian arts: The utilitarian artist produces utilities that serve the wants of humanity; carpentry, masonry, plumbing, salesmanship, printing, editing, banking, law, medicine, or the care of souls
Seven fine arts: If the artist is of the highest order, produces a work that is “a thing of beauty and a joy forever” and that has the power to elevate the human spirit; architecture, instrumental music, sculpture, painting, literature, the drama, and the dance

The Liberal Vs the Utilitarian/Fine Arts

Liberal Art:

The liberal arts when applied, the action begins in the agent and ends in the agent, who is perfected by the action; consequently, the liberal artist, far from being paid for his hard work, of which he receives the sole and full benefit, usually pays a teacher to give needed instruction and guidance in the practice of the liberal arts.

The liberal arts train the faculties and bring them to perfection; they enable a person to rise above his material environment to live an intellectual, a rational, and therefore a free life in gaining truth.

Utilitarian/Fine Arts

In the exercise of both the utilitarian and the fine arts, although the action begins in the agent, it goes out from the agent and ends in the object produced and usually has a commercial value; and therefore the artist is paid for the work.

The utilitarian or servile arts enable one to be a servant—of another person, of the state, of a corporation, or of a business—and to earn a living.

	Created by Usman Ahmed about 8 years ago

The Trivium - Sister Miriam Joseph