Isidore of Seville and liberal studies - from ancient to medieval culture

Abstract

Medieval education, adult education included, is usually inadequately treated in the educational history surveys, therefore some of the significant features and individuals stay unduly neglected although they represent specific bridge between old, allegedly liberal but pagan and new, medieval culture dominated by Church that supressed much of scientific, philosophical and cultural heritage of clasical antiquity. Isidore of Seville is among those notable, although insufficiently investigated and well-known personalities of medieval scholarship and especially adult education. As one of the principal encyclopedists od the early Middle Ages, in his master work Etymologiae (”The Etymologies”), in accordance (but also notwithstanding) with all restraints of his own time, Isidore tried to maintain many meaningful attainments of ancient culture and to translate them into the new, christian and church culture, and into the medieval mainly adult educational institutions as well. Accordingly, Isidore also represented the momentous interpreter of the seven liberal arts (septem artes liberales) tradition, educational system that was, by virtue of Isidore himself, succesfully transfered from classical antiquity to the first universities and beyond. Investigation and interpretation of Isidore’s work, based on historical methodology, resulted in conclusion that Etymologies represent valuable contribution to educational history and, within that context, to the history of adult education specifically.