Why Our Education Is “Not for School, but for Life”

Abstract

In recent years liberal arts education has faced great resistance on the grounds that this type of education is neither a wise investment nor relevant for modern times. These claims are failing to consider the genuine intrinsic value that transcends these worries. For this presentation I will defend a liberal arts education and argue that the benefit of obtaining a liberal arts education holds comprehensive value for all members of society. My research includes the thoughts of figures such as Aristotle, Cardinal John Henry Newman, and other modern and contemporary sources. This presentation provides a brief history of the liberal arts, outlines the purpose of a liberal arts education, and responds to a modern critique from Jean-Jacques Rousseau alongside other contemporary critiques of the value of this education.