An Initiated Mechanic's View of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences is written specifically for initiated Mechanics. It has been prepared in the spirit of brotherhood with the purpose of shedding light on the Liberal Arts.

In the Second Degree of Mechanism, which is the first of four degrees belonging to the Fellow Craft Mechanics, the ritual states:

"The study of the liberal arts, that valuable branch of education, which tends so effectually to polish and adorn the mind, is earnestly recommended to your consideration, especially the science of geometry or Mechanism."

However, the ritual does not explain what the liberal arts are, nor the order in which they are structured.

The Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences, as they are traditionally known, served as the foundation of education in antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages. At that time, they were considered the complete body of knowledge necessary for a well-rounded education. Referred to in Latin as artes liberales, from liber meaning "free", they were the subjects available to free men. These stood in contrast to the artes illiberales, which were practical or vocational skills taught for the purpose of earning a living. These were the operative arts of laborers and were considered less prestigious as educational pursuits.

Although the liberal arts were formally adopted during the Medieval period, their roots extend much further back to the Pythagorean and Platonic eras. They were structured to reflect a progressive path in education. The first three subjects are Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. Together, they are known as the Trivium, a term that means "the path of three roads." These subjects were regarded as the foundational intellectual tools that lead to the truth of the mind.

The remaining four subjects are Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy. These form what is called the Quadrivium, a name derived from the Latin word quatuor, meaning "four." These four disciplines were considered the path to understanding the truth of matter.

When one studies the subjects that comprise the Trivium and the Quadrivium, specific regions of the brain are stimulated in ways that enhance cognitive function and natural mental ability. This results in the transformation of mental processes from disorder to order, allowing one to pursue and accomplish any goal in life more effectively.

This is why initiated Mechanics are strongly encouraged to study the Liberal Arts. These disciplines truly "polish and adorn the mind", increasing awareness and responsiveness to one's surroundings, which are essential qualities for the journey of the initiated Mechanic.