Not long ago I came across an article that explained how our modern incarnation of academic reasoning originated. The following is a basic summary:


After the 10th century Medieval dark age, academic life got up and running again in Europe with ‘universitas’, groups of students and a single teacher who at first met wherever they could find space, in churches, residences or otherwise, learning the classical disciplines by studying great books. Liberal arts curriculum developed into seven areas: the trivium provided a basic foundation in grammar, logic and rhetoric, while the quadrivium was an upper level of arithmetic, geometry, music theory and astronomy, culminating in the designation “master of the arts”, usually a six year program. Many students went on to high level study in law, medicine or theology, and along the way stress was placed on physics (a kind of protoscience also known as natural philosophy), metaphysics and moral philosophy. The official Christian church got involved to augment education of its clergy, and universitas became cathedral schools, which moved their proceedings to major cities, increasing in popularity and prestige until by the Early Modern 17th century, universities funded by both religious and secular interests were the keystone of an upsurging subculture of great minds such as Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton.

Liberal education reached grand heights in the 18th century with the European Enlightenment, aspiration towards a comprehensive philosophy upon which to ground the pursuit of knowledge. The movement promulged reasoning as the primary organ of understanding, and sought a holistic theory of this faculty, also an elaboration of the methods and practices by which reason can generate a coherent view of the universe, such as those of logic and incipient science, as well as a literary exemplification of reason’s proper use and an integration of the philosophy of reason into political structure and institutions generally. It was intuited by these intrepid thinkers that the universality of reasons for the human race was as Benjamin Franklin put it “self-evident”, and a commitment to apt reasoning was the ultimate ideal, in principle holding the potential to unite humanity behind a systematic comprehension of nature, furthered by social equality granting every individual access to the best reasons for holding beliefs and consenting to organizational strategies, as well as the opportunity to participate in crafting this common fund of intellectual currency, optimizing the erudition and brilliance of every human being.


Our democratic values, concept of universal reason and all of academia, the foundation of political and social precedent in the 21st century West, began with citizens meeting informally at someone's house to read books. I find it fascinating that such a powerful and constructive social trend could be seeded by only a few individuals. Equally interesting is how pervasively liberal education has been transformed by politics and financial influence. With availability of online communication being what it is, the possibility of renewing and spreading an intellectual movement such as this is in principle extremely feasible for our society. What are the prospects and barriers to a modern Enlightenment gaining momentum?