Didascalicon of Hugh of St Victor a Medieval Guide to the Arts

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Dec 07, 2007 Sara rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: bibliophiles and everyone with an interest in medieval scholasticism

This book absolutely blew my mind. It is a didactic transmission written for medieval scholars past a monk on the topic of memory. Medieval scholars lived in a nonetheless heavily oral culture that placed more rigorous demands on the human retention than does our written culture. They created elaborate mnemonic devices, structures really, in guild to access vast amounts of material that they would read, but which they could not write down and take with them (writing materials were costly, and just because a monk This book admittedly blew my mind. It is a didactic manual written for medieval scholars past a monk on the topic of memory. Medieval scholars lived in a still heavily oral culture that placed more rigorous demands on the human retentiveness than does our written civilisation. They created elaborate mnemonic devices, structures really, in order to access vast amounts of material that they would read, only which they could non write downwards and have with them (writing materials were costly, and simply considering a monk could read did not necessarily mean he could write). With the help of manuals like this, monks were trained to transform their memories into, for lack of a better metaphor, rolodexes, catalogued and organized for prompt and thorough remember. The author describes one mnemonic structure where the scholar should commit to retentiveness a room in which every item in the room is associated with a specific passage from a specific book. Every bit the scholar reads more than passages and commits them to memory, he creates more objects to place in this room with which the given passages are associated. The diligent scholar could remember non just an entire book from get-go to cease (like we might recite a poem or even the alphabet), but would exist able to access any single passage from a volume, regardless of its order in the book, by mentally "picking up" the appropriate object he as associated with the desired passage. For less spatially-, more mathematically-minded scholars, the author suggests imagining a grid, indexed with numbers, where the numbers coincide with specific passages. Either style, the result is the same - a whole civilisation of scholars whose memories put ours, with our heavy reliance on the written word, to shame. Entire libraries existed in the minds of these men and I have trouble remembering my female parent's phone number. Astounding. ...more

Dec 13, 2013 Charlie rated information technology it was amazing

I of the most interesting books of the Center Ages is available in an excellent edition. Though several encyclopedias existed in the Middle Ages, Hugh'due south Didascalicon extends beyond mere data collection. Rather, his piece of work is an adventurous attempt to put all branches of human knowledge into order, amalgam a comprehensive intellectual system. Thus, each subject field's origin, scope, purpose, and method are divers. Moreover, relationships between disciplines are established. The effort alone is 1 of the most interesting books of the Middle Ages is available in an excellent edition. Though several encyclopedias existed in the Middle Ages, Hugh's Didascalicon extends beyond mere information collection. Rather, his work is an adventurous attempt to put all branches of homo knowledge into order, constructing a comprehensive intellectual system. Thus, each discipline'southward origin, scope, purpose, and method are divers. Moreover, relationships between disciplines are established. The attempt solitary is praiseworthy; its overall success is phenomenal.

Taylor'south translation and edition is commendable. A substantial introduction opens the volume. Taylor'south mastery of his subject area matter is evident, though non flaunted. Furthermore, the text is littered with notes that explain difficult concepts, clarify obscure references, identify source materials, and point to helpful secondary literature. The translation is highly readable. I take a few quibbles with it, merely given Taylor'southward stature, it may well be I rather than he who is in the wrong.

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Sep 26, 2011 Kevin Fuller rated it it was amazing

Here, in Hugh of Saint Victor, we find philosophy comprises four parts: The theoretical, whose study is the divine, the practical, whose study is human ethics and morality, the mechanical, whose study is the relieving of homo misery, and final the logical, whose study is the operation of Mind. Included in this writing is an exposition of medieval cosmology; where the empyrean and the infernum are discussed, the superlunary and sublunary are highlighted, and the anima mundi is but hinted at.

In that location

Here, in Hugh of Saint Victor, we notice philosophy comprises four parts: The theoretical, whose study is the divine, the practical, whose study is human ethics and morality, the mechanical, whose study is the relieving of human misery, and final the logical, whose study is the functioning of Heed. Included in this writing is an exposition of medieval cosmology; where the firmament and the infernum are discussed, the superlunary and sublunary are highlighted, and the anima mundi is only hinted at.

There is a difference between the intelligible and the intellectible and between study and subject. There is a method and an order to studying the liberal arts, whose apprehension is to insure nothing less than perfection, if not strength.

I've non read a book that covers Everything with such Petty. Here there is breadth and depth, the physical and the abstruse, the particular and the universal.

Dislocated with how to proceed in your studies? Let Hugh of Saint Victor point the style.

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Oct 17, 2011 Joe rated it really liked it

Didascalicon from didactic, or teaching. This book is a medieval encyclopedia of sorts on the breakdown of every subject and category, along with how to arroyo and study whatsoever material. Written in the 12th century, information technology gives squeamish insight into the patterns of academics for centuries to come as education was inbound into a new historical stage.

Some wisdom from Hugh:

"The practiced student, and so, ought to be humble and docile, costless alike from vain cares and from sensual indulgences, diligent and zealous

Didascalicon from didactic, or teaching. This volume is a medieval encyclopedia of sorts on the breakdown of every subject and category, along with how to approach and study whatever material. Written in the 12th century, information technology gives dainty insight into the patterns of academics for centuries to come as education was entering into a new historical phase.

Some wisdom from Hugh:

"The good pupil, and then, ought to be humble and docile, free alike from vain cares and from sensual indulgences, diligent and zealous to acquire willingly from all, to presume never upon his ain noesis, to shun the authors of perverse doctrine equally if they were poison, to consider a affair thoroughly and at length before judging of information technology, to seek to be learned rather than simply to seem and so, to honey such words of the wise equally he has grasped , and ever to concord those words earlier his gaze as the very mirror of his countenance."

...more

Mar 29, 2007 Conrad rated it really liked it

Contains a typical Medieval schematic of areas of noesis, along with a bang-up exposition on the importance of rhetoric, in reaction to Peter Abelard and all those pesky sophists

This has been on my "Virtually Important Books to Read" list for some time, and I can encounter why. It wasn't piece of cake, and information technology includes much to wade through and sift out. Even so, I believe it will be one of those books I volition return to for reference and further reflection in the future, as I am sure that fault in understanding falls more to my haste and lack of contemplation than Hugh's depth or clarity. I look forrad to digesting this for some time. This has been on my "Virtually Important Books to Read" list for some fourth dimension, and I can come across why. It wasn't easy, and information technology includes much to wade through and sift out. Even so, I believe it will be one of those books I will return to for reference and further reflection in the hereafter, as I am sure that fault in understanding falls more than to my haste and lack of contemplation than Hugh'due south depth or clarity. I look forward to digesting this for some fourth dimension. ...more

Best for his analysis of the 4-part nature of cognition and for his emphasis on the creature/rational components of humanity. An excellent arroyo to understanding what education should exist and how it should be grounded. His treatment of memory is very good and I will be revisiting his understanding of the textile arts frequently. The medieval handling of number deserves a thorough airing in out pervasively and reductively binary globe.

Hugh of St. Victor represents the model image for a scholar from the medieval Cathedral schools. His thoughtful, apprehensive, and virtuous persona shines through in his writing. The content in this work is invaluable for agreement a Christian liberal arts teaching.

I still tin't spell the title of this book so there's that.

Jun twenty, 2019 Austin Hoffman rated information technology really liked it

Not really what I was expecting. Hugh breaks downward all knowledge nether philosophy and details out the various disciplines, skills, and arts.

The edition blunders by using endnotes.

A fascinating study of a medieval'due south report of the thought of written report - hence, an important text for a estimator scientist to read. Hugh examines the question of how the various disciplines are related, and inter-related; Taylor provides many insightful notes, including i of the most enlightening, which shows that in Hugh'south day, at that place was no real distinction between ars (Art) and scientia (Noesis). Other works to be consulted along with this are The Sectionalization and Methods of the Sciences and Science A fascinating study of a medieval'southward study of the idea of written report - hence, an important text for a computer scientist to read. Hugh examines the question of how the various disciplines are related, and inter-related; Taylor provides many insightful notes, including one of the almost enlightening, which shows that in Hugh'due south day, at that place was no real distinction between ars (Art) and scientia (Knowledge). Other works to exist consulted along with this are The Division and Methods of the Sciences and Science And Creation In The Middle Ages: Henry Of Langenstein (D. 1397) On Genesis too every bit The Thought of a University. ...more

Oct 11, 2015 Marker Thomas rated it it was amazing

An excellent volume. I kind of accidentally bumped into this book and the fact that full 40% of the book is introduction and notes were a chip of a claiming but when I actually began the text of the volume information technology is absolutely fantastic!

This book speaks of what is important to study, making a clear case for how to pursue knowledge and to gain wisdom. The goal is not to be puffed upwards just rather to alive a life that "love and await for every good thing, every necessary thing".

Google says that this book "sele

An fantabulous book. I kind of accidentally bumped into this book and the fact that full 40% of the book is introduction and notes were a bit of a challenge only when I actually began the text of the volume it is admittedly fantastic!

This book speaks of what is important to study, making a clear case for how to pursue noesis and to gain wisdom. The goal is non to exist puffed up but rather to live a life that "love and expect for every good thing, every necessary matter".

Google says that this volume "selects and defines all of the important areas of knowledge"...that is to understate the value of this book. The way in puts all learning inside the context of the divine is truly heart opening and wonderfully encouraging.

No matter your area of study...this book can be a powerful guide toward learning and living.

...more than

Feb 15, 2016 Brent Pinkall rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed this volume. Hugh of Saint Victor provides what I retrieve is a more than robust and more than Christian model of classical instruction than that of his predecessors. Whereas Augustine and Cassiodorus tend to promote studying aspects of the liberal arts that pertain merely to the report of Scripture, Hugh of Saint Victor recognizes that all knowledge is relevant to the Christian considering all things concord together in Christ. I believe Hugh of Saint Victor has the right perspective on "sacred" and I thoroughly enjoyed this volume. Hugh of Saint Victor provides what I retrieve is a more than robust and more Christian model of classical pedagogy than that of his predecessors. Whereas Augustine and Cassiodorus tend to promote studying aspects of the liberal arts that pertain just to the study of Scripture, Hugh of Saint Victor recognizes that all noesis is relevant to the Christian because all things hold together in Christ. I believe Hugh of Saint Victor has the right perspective on "sacred" and "secular" learning -- a perspective defective or muddled in his predecessors. I also idea his department on humility in learning was particularly practiced. ...more

I haven't completely read the introduction, simply I did read Hugh. I haven't completely read the introduction, but I did read Hugh. ...more

Hugh of Saint-Victor, besides chosen Hugo of Saint-Victor was an eminent scholastic theologian who began the tradition of mysticism that made the school of Saint-Victor, Paris, famous throughout the twelfth century.

Of noble birth, Hugh joined the Augustinian canons at the monastery of Hamersleben, nearly Halberstadt (now in Germany). He went to Paris (c. 1115) with his uncle, Archdeacon Reinhard of Halber

Hugh of Saint-Victor, besides called Hugo of Saint-Victor was an eminent scholastic theologian who began the tradition of mysticism that made the school of Saint-Victor, Paris, famous throughout the 12th century.

Of noble birth, Hugh joined the Augustinian canons at the monastery of Hamersleben, virtually Halberstadt (now in Germany). He went to Paris (c. 1115) with his uncle, Archdeacon Reinhard of Halberstadt, and settled at Saint-Victor Abbey. From 1133 until his death, the school of Saint-Victor flourished under Hugh'south guidance.

His mystical treatises were strongly influenced by Bishop St. Augustine of Hippo, whose practical teachings on contemplative life Hugh composite with the theoretical writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Hugh's somewhat innovative fashion of exegesis made an important contribution to the development of natural theology: he based his arguments for God's existence on external and internal experience and added a teleological proof originating from the facts of experience.

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