Instead of the old trivium and quadrivium, the Renaissance humanist focused on only four subjects. The first was the study of history, in order to understand free nations in the past, especially ancient Greece and Rome. The second was the study of rhetoric in order to make men fit to lead a free society—not surprisingly, since the typical humanist saw Cicero as well as Aristotle as his ancient mentor. Then there was Greek and Roman literature to raise men’s standard of eloquence, and finally moral philosophy, which meant above all Aristotle’s Ethics.18 Studia humanitatis were the four parts of
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