William C. MichaelWilliam C. Michael

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., is the founder and headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy and a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church. Mr. Michael received an honors degree in Classics and Ancient History from Rutgers University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He led the CLAA to accreditation with Cognia in 2024. He has been studying and teaching the classical liberal arts for over 30 years.

St. Albert the Great, De Praedicabilibus, Liber I, Tract III, Ch. 01

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Source text 1. Primo igitur in tractatu de universalibus de genere loquendum est. Literal Translation:“First therefore in (the) treatise concerning universals concerning genus must-be-spoken.” Translation:First, then, in the treatise on universals, one must speak about genus. Explanation:This is a programmatic opening sentence that sets out the order of discussion. St. Albert is beginning a treatment of universals and says that the first topic to be addressed is genus. In scholastic logic, genus is one of the basic ways in which things can be predicated and classified, so it makes sense to begin here before moving to more specific notions such … Continue

St. Albert the Great, Of Universals – Chapter 3

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Lines 1-97 need to be revised to confirm accuracy of transcribed text. 1. Sic ergo explicata quaestione, hi qui dicunt in solis, nudis, purisque intellectibus posita esse septem pro se fortiores inducunt rationes. Thus therefore (having) explicated (the) question, these who say in sole, nude, and pure intellects posited to-be seven for themselves stronger induce reasons. Therefore, the question having been explained in this way, those who maintain that universals exist only in bare and pure intellects now bring forward seven stronger arguments in support of their position. This sentence serves as a transition into the third chapter of the … Continue

St. Albert the Great, Of Universals – Chapter 2

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1. A quibus quaestionibus circa universalia sit abstinendum.From which questions concerning universals there should-be abstaining. 2. Ne autem videatur quod nulla scientia de his sit, quae per logicae principia determinari non possunt: sed oportet quod altissimae sapientiae principiis determinentur.Lest however it-may-seem that no knowledge of these things is, which through principles of-logic to-be-determined are not able: but it-is-necessary that by-principles of-highest wisdom they-be-determined. 3. Prima quidem est, an ista quae genera et species dicuntur, in re subsistant, aut non quidem in rerum natura sint subsistentia, sed in solis nudis purisque intellectibus per abstractionem a rebus factam sint posita?The first indeed … Continue

St. Albert the Great, Of Universals – Chapter 1

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1. Quomodo universale est de consideratione logici, et de numero universalium, ac de utilitate libri universalium.How universal is of consideration of-the logician, and of the number of universals, and of the usefulness of-the book of-universals. 2. Primum autem quod in scientia logica est considerandum, universale est: quia si ratio predicabilis de aliis secundum veritatem attendatur, proprie et vere predicari de alio non potest, nisi quod inest illi de quo predicatur.First however what in science logical is to-be-considered, universal is: because if the account of-the-predicable concerning others according-to truth be-attended-to, properly and truly to-be-predicated of another it cannot, unless what is-in … Continue

New! Standardized Test Records & Evaluation

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This week, we added a helpful new resource on the CLAA Study Center. A new “Standardized Testing section has been added to the “Reports” menu on the Study Center with a link to view a student’s CAT Test Results. When students complete their annual standardized testing in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we will upload each year’s results to the CLAA Study Center and add a helpful evaluation of the results that explains how to remedy weaknesses and maintain strengths identified by the testing. Using grade-level standardized tests to evaluate student progress is strongly recommended for CLAA families. These scores … Continue

Why Do We Need to Study Porphyry’s Introduction?

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In the opening sentence of Porphyry’s Introduction, we read: Since it is necessary, both to the doctrine of the Categories of Aristotle, and to the formation of definitions, and in short, to those things which pertain to division and demonstration, to know what Genus and Difference, Species, Peculiarity, and Accident are; and since also the theory of these is useful: In a summary way, I will briefly endeavour to discuss for you, in the form, as it were, of an Introduction, what has been delivered on this subject by the ancients. In this opening sentence, Porphyry identifies for us the … Continue

TRV-371 – Porphyry, Introduction, Chapter 1

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Classical Liberal Arts AcademyMr. William C. Michael, O.P.05/07/2026 Lesson Text: Porphyry, Introduction. Chapter 1 Introduction Welcome to the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. This lecture is intended for students enrolled in the Academy, who are studying according to the instructions provided on “How to Study for Mastery” at classicalliberalarts.com/mastery. Courses in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy provide students with access to all necessary study materials, graded assessments, records and expert support. If you would like to join us for self-paced classical studies, please visit classicalliberalarts.com. “Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the … Continue

TRV-371 – Porphyry, Introduction, Chapter 6

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Classical Liberal Arts AcademyMr. William C. Michael, O.P.05/07/2026 Lesson Text: Porphyry, Introduction. Chapter 6 Introduction Welcome to the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. This lecture is intended for students enrolled in the Academy, who are studying according to the instructions provided on “How to Study for Mastery” at classicalliberalarts.com/mastery. Courses in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy provide students with access to all necessary study materials, graded assessments, records and expert support. If you would like to join us for self-paced classical studies, please visit classicalliberalarts.com. “Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the … Continue

Understanding the Five Predicables in Porphyry’s Introduction (Isagoge)

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This page provides a detailed explanation of the five predicables as taught in Porphyry’s Introduction. This work is also referred to by its Greek name, Isagoge. What are the Five Predicables? In his Introduction, Porphyry proposes five fundamental ways in which something may be predicated of a subject. These are called the five predicables: Genus, Species, Difference, Peculiarity, and Accident. These distinctions are necessary for understanding how things are defined and how they are related to one another in logical reasoning. When we ask what a thing is, what kind of thing it is, or what belongs to it, we … Continue

Lecture on Aristotle’s Ethics – Book I, Chapter 06

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Note: The following text is a direct transcription of the spoken lecture above. Welcome to the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. This lecture is intended for students enrolled in the Academy’s Philosophy 311, Classical Ethics course. If you’re not enrolled and would like to join us for self-paced studies, please visit classicalliberalarts.com. My name is William C. Michael. I’m the Academy headmaster, and I’ll be leading this study. Prelection The subject of this lesson is Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book One, Chapter Six. This chapter is a very difficult chapter for most students because it examines the question of whether there is … Continue