Technometry: Theses 22-30 - Arranging Eupraxiae

In theses 22-30 of Technometry, Ames explains his reasoning for listing the eupraxiae, and the liberal arts, in the order that he does.  It's important to note that he doesn't list them in the order in which they ought to be studied, but in order of specialty and dependency.  Some arts cannot exist without other arts.  Some arts become concrete in other arts.  For example, you can't do physics without math.  So Ames lists math before physics because physics depends on math, but math doesn't depend upon physics.  While this implies that we ought to learn math before physics, it becomes a bit more complicated when we look at trivium rather than the quadrivium.

Here is Ames's order of the arts and their defined eupraxiae:

1. Logic, for discoursing (arguing and reasoning).
2. Grammar, for speaking.
3. Rhetoric, for communicating.
4. Mathematics (arithmetic and geometry), for measuring.
5. Physics, for doing the work of nature.
6. Theology, for living.

The Puritans following Ramus re-defined the art of logic according to Cicero and the Topics of Aristotle rather than using the old Aristotelian medieval scholastic definition of logic.  (Kind of a rabbit trail for now).  Ames argues that none of the other arts can exist without logic, so he places it first in his list of eupraxiae.  He says, echoing Cicero,

Discoursing well is disposing [or arranging] well the the reasons of things that have been invented well.  [It] becomes concrete in use in all other eupraxiae and in itself, and this from absolute necessity so that the remaining eupraxiae cannot be known, or exist, without it.

In a nutshell, we think before we speak.  We need the art of reasoning before we can properly speak, communicate, measure, do the work of nature, or live.  Ames also acknowledges that speaking and communicating are "handmaidens" to arguing, as well.  They are somewhat interdependent.

Both logic and grammar are needed for rhetoric.  Logic, grammar, and rhetoric are needed to measure well.  Logic, grammar, rhetoric, and math are needed to do physics (the work of nature) and theology.

Theology and physics are at the bottom of the list because they are not needed for logic, grammar, math, or any of the other arts.  Ames calls them "more special" and "less general."

Being at the very bottom of the list and "less general" means that theology is the "most special."  Because physics and theology depend on all the other arts, all the general arts listed before them become concrete in them.  Lee Gibbs sums it up,

In a very real sense all the other arts are 'for the sake of' the art or teaching of theology.

Ames clearly believes that these classical arts become concrete in theology.  (Not only in theology but also concrete in themselves and more or less in other arts).  Further, he argues that theology is the art of living rightly for God.  He says in his famous work, The Marrow of Theology,

Divinity is the doctrine of living to God. . . . to live well is more excellent than to live happily.

He also says in Marrow,

Theology therefore, is to us, the ultimate and the noblest of all the exact teaching arts.  It is a guide and master plan for our highest end, sent in a special manner from God, treating of divine things, tending towards God, and leading man to God.

This is why I love the Puritans!  Let's not chop off the ultimate and noblest art from our curriculum program.  We have a great opportunity to enculturate our children in the Lord.   Theological training is not something to put on the back burner as we educate our children.  If theology is not helping us live well to God, we repent.