"Liberal Arts; Past, Present and Future"

Authors

Dwight L. Ling, Rollins College

Abstract

The Greek poet Pindar stated that the wise man is one who knows by nature, while those who know merely because they have been taught are to be scorned. The suggestion that there is intuitive knowledge or an elevated type of common sense is not new; however, I would argue that we must study and ponder the wisdom of the past if we would be wise today or in the future. Many liberal arts colleges have detracted from this wisdom by dropping classical studies and catering to the whims of an ahistorical generation of students. To gain the insights that Pindar admires we need to preserve a liberal arts education that includes the wisdom of all of the traditional fields represented in our faculties. These traditional studies are still valid and valuable; the mistake that American higher education has made is assuming that an 18 year old person will be able to choose what he needs from this noble list of studies. We, as specialists in higher education, must think seriously about the relationship between liberal studies and contemporary society and help the students choose wisely. Each one of us must be committed to the idea that a liberal education is valuable and useful for our students.

Recommended Citation

Ling, Dwight L. (1979) ""Liberal Arts; Past, Present and Future"," Perspectives (1969-1979): Vol. 10: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/perspectives/vol10/iss2/3