Liberal Arts Education Purpose

The Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education

The purpose of a liberal arts education is to teach students to understand and be empathetic towards those from their own and other cultures. This education is also more personalized and less training which leads to the discovery of personal truths, and perhaps a venture down a suitable career path which will bring happiness and purpose rather than money and power. Additionally, this education gives students knowledge, and lessens conflicts because of intolerance.

Of the liberal arts, history is needed for students to study conflicts in order to learn how to and how not to solve problems in order to prevent future strifes. History also helps abolish superiority myths, and create unity by demonstrating

community, and the importance of a larger cause which fuels collaboration and unity against global issues. Furthermore, in english we read the works of other cultures which helps us understand our societal differences and celebrate them. Jill Tiefenthaler, the president of Colorado College concludes that students need to understand different cultures and ideas in order for them to collaborate with people from different societies. which she believes are skills the liberal arts develop. Jill Tiefenthaler also adds that an education in the liberal arts directs students away from training at a college to receive a high paying, unfulfilling job, and towards a career, and life that will mean something to them individually. Similarly, Bill Deresiewicz notes that colleges are training students to follow a certain path to reach a set goal or career path, and when they reach that goal they are uncertain of why they did it. This practice often leads young adults to settle for unfulfilling jobs simply because it is what they were “trained” to do. Many people believe that extensive structure in schools is essential for success. Without all the rules to follow, how will we know what to do? Even with our current schooling systems which contain liberal arts topics there are so many conflicts that are spurred by intolerance and misunderstanding. Imagine how many more there would be without any understanding of others? The violence and disarray would increase exponentially.