More on Liberal Arts

Monday, 26 April 2010 by Marcus Aquinas.

Brian Leiter’s blog (Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog) linked to an interesting review by Troy Jollimore at TruthDig of Martha Nusbaum’s book, “Not For Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities”. Perhaps I am just more aware of the issue than I had been in the past, but the review raised a number of very interesting points as to the value of the Humanities in a well-rounded education. A similar point was made by Robert Paul Wolff (see my earlier post for the link) in slightly different terms.I confess to having a somewhat personal axe to grind on the issue since it pertains to my own education. Most of my readings in the traditional Liberal Arts have been at my own instigation. On the one hand, I have enjoyed the freedom to explore, question and ponder pretty much as my curiosity has directed me. On the other hand, this has happened in an environment with few people who were capable of telling me when I was full of it or not; their educations being even more lacking in this area than mine. But on one point, coming from an admittedly limited and informal foundation, I have to agree: the Liberal Arts help the student develop a particular sympathy for others’ viewpoints. To sacrifice that for economic gain is to do a great disservice not only here, but to the future.

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and with the dole

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

–Moslih Eddin Saadi, Gulistan

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