The Beauty of Integration: A Call for the Recovery of Integration in Classical Christian Education

Throughout this school year, I have led you through the process of writing my senior thesis. This final post is an adapted version of my full thesis paper that I hope will give you an overview of my argument. 

Integration in our world

You may have heard of Nathaniel Bowditch, a navigator from the late 1700s. This remarkable young man stopped school when he was 10 to become an apprentice. But he was committed to continuing his academics. In his spare time, he taught himself to read Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and German so that he could read mathematical books in their original languages. 

Later, he became an astronomer and published The New American Practical Navigator, a book that combined his love of languages, math, and astronomy to revolutionize sailing.

Through his navigation book, we see how integration was monumental in Nathaniel’s life. Unfortunately, this integration that marked both his life and the lives of many other past greats is no longer prevalent in education.

In public schools, we see STEM, especially technology, honored as the best pursuit.

In classical Christian education (CCE), science is often underemphasized to focus more on subjects like history, Latin, and rhetoric.

But is there a better way?

Terms

In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis imagines “A New Natural Philosophy”. Natural philosophy merges natural history and natural science in the realm of the liberal arts and philosophy. But what do these terms mean? 

• Natural philosophy: marriage of science and humanities; integration

• Natural history: categories, classifications, observations; think of Darwin

• Natural sciences: causes, direct experimentation, hard facts; think of modern sciences (biology, chemistry, physics)

• Liberal arts

  • Trivium: grammar, logic, rhetoric

  • Quadrivium: arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy

Argument Outline

My thesis is that science education in classical Christian schools should be restored to the fullness of natural philosophy because the integration of classical and scientific pedagogies allows education to aid in fully cultivating students. To support this, I demonstrate two main points. 

1. Natural philosophy, through integration, furthers students’ understanding and develops wisdom.

2. Natural philosophy teaches students to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and draws them closer to Him, which is the goal of CCE. 

My argument

First, I want to demonstrate that classical education can benefit scientific pedagogy through integration. 

The main way this happens is through the liberal arts, which are tools upon which we can build an understanding of science. We see this in the way that astronomy provides the framework for physics, grammar for biology, or arithmetic for chemistry. 

But students do not need only tools. They need context too. One of the best ways to provide this is through history. Integrating the abstract facts that are necessary for science into the concrete context and framework of history allows science to become a beautiful narrative that tells the tale of the discoveries that have shaped our world. 

Secondly, natural philosophy teaches students to appreciate God’s creation and culminates in a greater worship of Him. Natural philosophy demonstrates the beauty of creation and helps students to learn God’s mind and heart through His reflection in creation.

Because students see God’s hand in nature, they will be led to glorify Him, thus fulfilling the goal of classical education. Whether it is in the strength of a tree, the majesty of a mountain, or the endless expanse of the ocean, students are reminded of God’s strength, majesty, and endless love, and they praise Him.

But wait…

Won’t teaching science with the integration of natural philosophy add too many irrelevant details to science education and hinder students’ growth in STEM? 

The reality is that because natural philosophy does not teach purely science students will learn the concepts better. Adding the tools, context, and beauty that I mentioned will help students see the greater significance of science. This allows them to better understand facts, strengthen their critical thinking skills, and deepen their relationship with God, which will be of much more benefit than simply science. 

How can we do this?

I want to leave you with some principles for how natural philosophy can best be restored into a classical curriculum.

1. Teach students what science really means- knowledge. Allow them to be in nature and wonder at what they see there.

2. Teach students why natural philosophy and integration are beneficial.

3. Most importantly, inspire students to see the beauty in God’s creation and to worship Him.

Through these principles, a lovely restoration of natural philosophy will occur, as students learn that the beauty of integration can inspire them to wonder at God’s marvelous creation and praise our Heavenly Father.