The Revolution of Ars Promptandi: Why the Mediterranean Already Knows How to Do Question Engineering

This paper introduces the concept of ars promptandi—the art of formulating the right questions to the right machines—as a pedagogical and cultural response to the challenges of artificial intelligence in education. Rooted in the Mediterranean humanistic tradition of rhetoric, dialectics, and philosophy, ars promptandi is presented as the natural evolution of ars rhetorica in the digital era. Drawing on classical sources (Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian) and intercultural legacies (Latin and Greek philology, French philosophy curricula, Islamic munāẓara and falsafa), the paper explores how the art of questioning can be redefined through question engineering for AI-assisted learning. It outlines methodological principles such as sequencing, calibration, quality control, and metacognitive reflection, while addressing ethical and educational concerns including responsibility of authorship, cognitive inclusion, and the value of intellectual effort in an era of automation. Finally, it argues for a Euro-Mediterranean policy of digital humanism, where education does not merely train AI users but cultivates citizens capable of critical, dialogical, and ethical collaboration with intelligent systems.