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It's time for another exciting challenge! We all know that modern education systems across the world are lacking in several key areas once considered essential for mental growth. The Classical Education system included all the subjects we study today, but with a stronger focus on our Western Classical heritage. Here are ten books that will guide you toward achieving a classical education from the comfort of your home. The competition? The first registered user to correctly identify the source of the following quote will win an unlimited-size email address at [email protected].
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10. A Beginner's Guide to Traditional Logic
The full title of this book is An Introduction to Traditional Logic: Classical Reasoning for Contemporary Minds. A classical education begins with the trivium, which consists of logic, rhetoric, and grammar. This book provides a solid foundation in the logic component of the trivium. It’s not as difficult as it may seem—I’ve seen children as young as five studying all three elements with ease.
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9. English Composition and Grammar
This is a key element of the trivium—it addresses the grammar of your native language. The book I’ve chosen comes highly recommended for its simple yet effective approach to teaching grammar and composition. I strongly endorse it. When paired with the other two books, you'll quickly become fluent in your language skills.
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8. Greek: An Intensive Course
Learning a second language deepens your understanding of key grammatical concepts in your own language. Ancient Greek and Latin were core languages in the Classical Curriculum. Don't let the different alphabet intimidate you—it only takes a couple of hours with the right guidance to be able to read the Greek alphabet. This book will walk you through the process quickly and easily. Imagine how impressive you'll be at parties when you can read Aeschylus in his original Greek!
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7. Teach Yourself Latin: Complete Course
Latin is often labeled as a dead language, but it remains the official language of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican City State. Moreover, when traveling through Europe, you’ll often encounter inscriptions on old plaques and gravestones in this ancient language. Like Ancient Greek, learning Latin will give you a profound understanding of your own language and offer a deeper insight into Roman culture and thought.
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6. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student
We now arrive at the final component of the Trivium: rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, whether through spoken, visual, or written language. It’s what transforms language into poetry. By mastering this crucial classical skill, you’ll be able to win both friends and debates.
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5. Arithmetic the Easy Way
Having completed the trivium, we now proceed to the quadrivium – the final stage of education before delving into philosophy and theology. The first part of the quadrivium is arithmetic – the study of numbers. This book serves as an excellent guide for both young learners and adults, providing a deeper understanding of mathematical principles.
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4. Euclid’s Elements
Following arithmetic, we move on to geometry. The book I have chosen is the first volume of a three-part series by Euclid, who is regarded as the father of geometry. One Amazon reviewer said: “No mathematician has been as successful as Euclid. For over 2000 years, his work in compiling The Elements has stood as the pinnacle of geometry.”
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3. Tonal Harmony
The third area of the quadrivium is music – but not in the way it’s typically taught in schools today. In classical education, music is the study of harmony. As with many artistic disciplines, you must first understand the rules before you can break them. This book on tonal harmony will guide you through those rules, and once you’ve mastered them, you can begin to explore breaking them (atonal harmony).
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2. The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
We now arrive at the final topic of the quadrivium: astronomy. Astronomy is the study of everything beyond Earth’s atmosphere. According to one review, *The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy* is one of the most captivating and innovative books ever written about ancient, medieval, and Renaissance astronomy, as well as the history of science. For the first time, readers can not only learn about ancient astronomy but also how to practice it. The book offers an extensive range of coverage, from the Babylonians and Greeks, especially Ptolemy, to Arabic astronomers of the Middle Ages, and extending to Copernicus and Kepler.
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1. The Complete Works of Aristotle
Upon completing the foundational trivium and quadrivium stages of a classical education, a student is prepared to delve deeply into philosophy and theology. As stated on Wikipedia, philosophy addresses questions such as how one should live (ethics), what exists and what their fundamental nature is (metaphysics), what constitutes genuine knowledge (epistemology), and the principles of sound reasoning (logic). During the medieval period, when the classical curriculum flourished, Aristotle was central to philosophical studies. For this reason, I have included his complete works. This revised Oxford edition is available in two volumes for easier reading.
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Having already covered the philosophical aspects of classical education, we now turn to its theological counterpart. Thomas Aquinas, widely regarded as the greatest theological thinker of the Middle Ages, offers a comprehensive approach in *The Summa Theologica*. Its structure follows a cyclical pattern: exploring the existence of God, God’s creation, mankind, humanity’s purpose, Christ, the sacraments, and returning to God. The work is well-known for its five arguments for the existence of God, or *quinquae viae* (Latin: five ways). Aquinas draws on the works of Augustine, Aristotle, and other Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and ancient pagan scholars. This remains the pinnacle of theological thought and serves as the bedrock of modern seminary education.
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