08 October 2012

Quod natura non dat, Salmantica non praestat

I recently wrote a short position paper on spatial learning in a design school context. It asked a question about how much spatial ability is a talent and how much is a skill. We often see very intellectual individuals struggling with spatial basics. Especially where perception and judgement are required, the uncertainty of humans' ability to learn spatial lessons adds yet another challenge to design education.

Having that in mind, I was struck when I stumbled onto some information about Salamanca University. Founded in 900 AD, it is the oldest Spanish-language university in the world. But it was their motto that caught my eye:

Quod natura non dat, Salmantica non praestat 

For those not steeped in the dead language of Latin, it translates roughly as: 
What nature does not give, Salamanca does not offer

Skill or talent? Can we identify the difference?

1 comment:

bill wolfe said...

read Sigfried Gideon:

Space, Time, and Architecture

Mechanization Takes Command