Intellectualism and the SCA
I have just spent a few days on a roadtrip with erudito, and had to dust off my brain for some of the most interesting historical/political talks I have had in recent times. Felt alive, as I find this actually much mor interesting than Norse clothing for example... And this particular chestnut came back out from the recesses of my mind - it may be familiar to some of you however, I don't believe it has ever been seriously proposed...
(Carefully places soapbox out for all to see)
It has always fascinated me that we have the most fascinating research into the practical tools or lifestyle of medieval life, and even intellectual theory on what these represent. For an example, please see Erudito's insight into the role of Medieval Dance. Absolutely Fascinating.
Where we seem to have a great big black hole, is in the research into the philosophical insights of the medieval scholars. It really piques my interest that no one that I am aware of in Lochac has spent time seriously looking at what for medieval man was the intellectual heights. I see no active discussions on Occam's Razor, or the value of music as a tool for studying nature's harmonics (eg things like planetary alignments). While some that I know of have such knowledge, I have never seen it actively pursued, or taught *within* the SCA.
And quite frankly, I find it really fascinating.
Here is a quickie from Cambridge's website:
The students who flocked to Cambridge soon arranged their scheme of study after the pattern which had become common in Italy and France, and which they would have known in Oxford. They studied first what would now be termed a 'foundation course' in arts - grammar, logic and rhetoric - followed later by arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy, leading to the degrees of bachelor and master. There were no professors; the teaching was conducted by masters who had themselves passed through the course and who had been approved or licensed by the whole body of their colleagues (the universitas or university). The teaching took the form of reading and explaining texts; the examinations were oral disputations in which the candidates advanced a series of questions or theses which they disputed or argued with opponents a little senior to themselves, and finally with the masters who had taught them. Some of the masters, but by no means all, went on to advanced studies in divinity, canon and civil law, and, more rarely, medicine, which were taught and examined in the same way by those who had already passed through the course and become doctors. The doctors grouped themselves into specific faculties.
You can find the rest here: http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/pubs/history/medieval.html
For some years I have been mulling over the concept of running classes at festival for each of these topics (not personally for all of them, but co-opting the large brained types to do so). Each picks a topic for a class, and runs it on one day. Thereby gaining a taste through one day at festival at what people Learned in medieval times.
Perhaps complementary classes could be given in items such as Medicine (by for example Pip or Cairistiona, or possibly both) or Canon law, or theology...?
As an interesting aside, it might also be quite fascinating to have effectively a Great Debate run somewhere like the Wine Bar on one evening, allowing people to debate one of the great medieval topics, and thereby earning their "bachelor" or "masters" ... a REAL Lochac University???
(Not sure how far you could follow this without running into SCA convention in a bad way with the use of the word Master, but think it would be interesting)
Anyone have any thoughts - would this be a worthwhile activity? Would anyone be interested in coming to grips with the medieval intellectual mindset?
(Carefully places soapbox out for all to see)
It has always fascinated me that we have the most fascinating research into the practical tools or lifestyle of medieval life, and even intellectual theory on what these represent. For an example, please see Erudito's insight into the role of Medieval Dance. Absolutely Fascinating.
Where we seem to have a great big black hole, is in the research into the philosophical insights of the medieval scholars. It really piques my interest that no one that I am aware of in Lochac has spent time seriously looking at what for medieval man was the intellectual heights. I see no active discussions on Occam's Razor, or the value of music as a tool for studying nature's harmonics (eg things like planetary alignments). While some that I know of have such knowledge, I have never seen it actively pursued, or taught *within* the SCA.
And quite frankly, I find it really fascinating.
Here is a quickie from Cambridge's website:
The students who flocked to Cambridge soon arranged their scheme of study after the pattern which had become common in Italy and France, and which they would have known in Oxford. They studied first what would now be termed a 'foundation course' in arts - grammar, logic and rhetoric - followed later by arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy, leading to the degrees of bachelor and master. There were no professors; the teaching was conducted by masters who had themselves passed through the course and who had been approved or licensed by the whole body of their colleagues (the universitas or university). The teaching took the form of reading and explaining texts; the examinations were oral disputations in which the candidates advanced a series of questions or theses which they disputed or argued with opponents a little senior to themselves, and finally with the masters who had taught them. Some of the masters, but by no means all, went on to advanced studies in divinity, canon and civil law, and, more rarely, medicine, which were taught and examined in the same way by those who had already passed through the course and become doctors. The doctors grouped themselves into specific faculties.
You can find the rest here: http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/pubs/history/medieval.html
For some years I have been mulling over the concept of running classes at festival for each of these topics (not personally for all of them, but co-opting the large brained types to do so). Each picks a topic for a class, and runs it on one day. Thereby gaining a taste through one day at festival at what people Learned in medieval times.
Perhaps complementary classes could be given in items such as Medicine (by for example Pip or Cairistiona, or possibly both) or Canon law, or theology...?
As an interesting aside, it might also be quite fascinating to have effectively a Great Debate run somewhere like the Wine Bar on one evening, allowing people to debate one of the great medieval topics, and thereby earning their "bachelor" or "masters" ... a REAL Lochac University???
(Not sure how far you could follow this without running into SCA convention in a bad way with the use of the word Master, but think it would be interesting)
Anyone have any thoughts - would this be a worthwhile activity? Would anyone be interested in coming to grips with the medieval intellectual mindset?