Artes mechanicae (mechanical arts) are a medieval concept of ordered practices or skills, often juxtaposed to the traditional seven liberal arts (artes liberales). Also called "servile" and "vulgar", from antiquity they had been deemed "unbecoming" for a free man, as they minister to basic needs: Sedulius Scotus, In Priscianumpag.: 58, linea: 50 liberales quoque artes nominat ipsas disciplinas quas liberi et ingenui homines discunt quaeque non sunt seruiles.
Artes mechanicae (mechanical arts) are a medieval concept of ordered practices or skills, often juxtaposed to the traditional seven liberal arts (artes liberales). Also called "servile" and "vulgar", from antiquity they had been deemed "unbecoming" for a free man, as they minister to basic needs: Sedulius Scotus, In Priscianumpag.: 58, linea: 50 liberales quoque artes nominat ipsas disciplinas quas liberi et ingenui homines discunt quaeque non sunt seruiles.
Source: Wikipedia "Artes mechanicae" · CC BY-SA 4.0
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