Introduction to the Fundamental Liberal Arts: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric

The purpose of this text is to introduce the reader to the three fundamental liberal arts: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. These three disciplines, together called the Trivium, formed the foundation of the system of education that held sway in the West from ancient to modern times. Grammar is the art of combining the symbols that we call words into sentences. Logic is the art of reasoning to achieve knowledge of reality as it is. Rhetoric is the art of sharing ideas and of persuasion.

• Jonathan Sammartino earned his B.A. in Psychology and Digital Art and Photography at Georgetown University, and his Ph.D. in Psychology at University of California at Berkeley. At the college and high school levels he teaches psychology, digital photography, logic, and programming.
• Gideon Rappaport earned his B.A. in English Literature and Art History at Cowell College, University of California at Santa Cruz, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English and American Literature at Brandeis University. At high school, college, and graduate levels, he has taught Shakespeare, English literature and composition, and Humanities. He is the editor of Dusk and Dawn: Poems and Prose of Philip Thompson (One Mind Good Press, 2005).
• Dr. Sammartino and Dr. Rappaport team teach an introduction to grammar, logic, and rhetoric, for which this book is the text.