교양교육의 ‘오래된 미래’ : 12세기 교육도상과의 대화

Abstract

Liberal education has continued the tradition of connecting knowledge and converting comprehensive knowledge into values. Liberal education in the artificial intelligence age should present human values that differ from those of machines. As groundwork for this, there is a need to investigate the key elements of the Ariadne’s thread that will enable passage through the labyrinth from within the legacy passed down by liberal education. The Hortus Deliciarum (Garden of Delights), produced by the abbess Herrad of Hohenbourg Abbey in the 12th century, presented a new milestone in the education of canonesses with respect to the needs of Church Reform at the time. One prominent work, “Philosophy and Seven Liberal Arts,” is a beautiful iconic image that depicts the tradition of liberal arts as a comprehensive philosophical system. The order of the wondrous world created by God is organized in an elaborate structure of circles, and the human knowledge system is arranged as tools for exploring such wonders. Education is intended to further the discovery and remembrance of the compositional principle and order of the world, thus leading humanity of the secular world toward Divine Wisdom. The iconic image of circles reproduces the cosmology of its time visually and allows learners to find their place within the grand order. Knowledge allows learners to discover the wonders of the world and pursue “the beyond” that lies outside the garden of reality. Furthermore, it strengthens the vocation and identity of learners by making them recognize their own place within their relationships with the whole. The iconic image of “Philosophy and Seven Liberal Arts” presents a strategy of education for passing through the labyrinth of an era. The Ariadne’s thread that will enable passage through the labyrinth can be obtained when the fundamental tool for learning, rather than the delivery of some knowledge, is in place. Its key elements are to provide the learning motivation to explore the wonders of the world, set the direction of learning, and strengthen the self-identity needed to continue the journey of learning.