The Latin eruditio and its derivations - besides English “erudition” also French érudition, Italian erudizione, and Spanish erudición describe a process whereby ignorance and inexperience (Latin ruditas) are eliminated by instruction and tuition. These terms, and the German equivalent Gelehrsamkeit (related to lehren, “to teach” and Lehre, “instruction, teaching”), which emerged in the 17th century and became exceedingly widesprea…