The Liberal Arts: Do they Matter?

[Novorobo]

I wouldn't put history in the same category as philosophy; history, at least in theory, values the same sort of evidence-based analysis as science does, though I wouldn't quite put it on the same level. But philosophy isn't about even that, which doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, but it does fail to justify why it has comparable reason to be a specialized field.

Let's not conflate whether or not they matter with whether or not it's the sort of subject on which we need specialized experts, let alone whether or not everyone else's tax dollars should prop that idea up.

[Xemnarius]

While they matter at least in terms of helping make a person more well rounded, I would not recommend making a Liberal Arts subject as your primary major.

I generally suggest majoring in a STEM or business major, and then if you have time, have a liberal arts minor or second major.

At least here in the US, we have waaayyy too many people majoring in liberal arts, then get out of college only to find themselves working at Barnes & Noble or Starbucks. It mostly boils down to supply and demand. There are much more liberal arts majors (supply) than people with STEM degrees, and significantly less jobs in humanities (demand) than jobs for people STEM degrees. This gets even more extreme for women. At least in my field (Computer Science), all you need to get a well paying job as a woman is a degree and a heartbeat. We don't care what your GPA is. Just get a degree and apply! (The male to female ratio is roughly 9:1 at my job).

Should you be able to study whatever you want (in college)? Of course. Is it a financially smart idea? Absolutely not (unless of course, you know someone that can get you a good job, but this applies to literally everything).

[Xemnarius]

I wouldn't put history in the same category as philosophy; history, at least in theory, values the same sort of evidence-based analysis as science does, though I wouldn't quite put it on the same level. But philosophy isn't about even that, which doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, but it does fail to justify why it has comparable reason to be a specialized field.

Let's not conflate whether or not they matter with whether or not it's the sort of subject on which we need specialized experts, let alone whether or not everyone else's tax dollars should prop that idea up.

Slightly related joke: "The second cheapest department to fund is Math: all you need are pencils, paper, and a trashcan. The cheapest department is philosophy: all you need are pencils and paper."

[Scomagia]

If you're just going to University to get a high paying career, the Liberal Arts really aren't for you. That's what STEM is for.

If, on the other hand, you're going University primarily to examine life and what it means to be human, the Liberal Arts are a good choice. You won't be paid well, though.

Either option is good, it just depends on the person.

[United Marxist Nations]

Still not sure history can be considered a liberal art, as it is a social science.

Edit: my bad, didn't realize liberal arts include sciences. Just looked it up

[Atlanticatia]

Yes. Education should not be to just prepare a person for the labour force, but to develop a person intellectually.

[The Liberated Territories]

I don't believe that the liberal arts constitute a good basis for employment, but as a minor it is definitely worthwhile.

[Rio Cana]

In China today, they are reintroducing the Liberal Arts in a big way. Before the fall of the Qing Empire, which was the last Imperial dynasty, Chinese Imperial government officials and higher class were required to take exams and study what we would call today the liberal arts which included Philosophy, writing poetry and such. It worked well for them for centuries. After the Imperial dynasty fell and the Republic was proclaimed, the so called liberal education of centuries was tossed out for Science and Engineering. Most if not all the universities dropped the liberal arts and replaced then with science and engineering. They wanted to catch up to the West and make China militarily strong. At this point, the military during the Nationalist and later CCP period became rather influential in the running of everyday China. Before, during the Imperial times it was not like that. The military was always subordinate to imperial rule and bureaucracy.

Making a story short, China today has many engineers which have transformed China but even the CCP has come to find out that they need liberal arts to shore up the successes and solve the major problems created by these successes.


An example of Liberal Arts. Ancient Chinese architecture. Looks nice and seems to be in harmony with its surroundings.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2433/3617 ... 8c34_z.jpg

An example of modern Engineering and Science. Looks kind of out of place -
http://www.contemporist.com/photos/mode ... _mon04.jpg

[The Liberated Territories]

An example of Liberal Arts. Ancient Chinese architecture. Looks nice and seems to be in harmony with its surroundings.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2433/3617 ... 8c34_z.jpg

An example of modern Engineering and Science. Looks kind of out of place -
http://www.contemporist.com/photos/mode ... _mon04.jpg

Personally I like the latter.

[The Huskar Social Union]

An example of Liberal Arts. Ancient Chinese architecture. Looks nice and seems to be in harmony with its surroundings.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2433/3617 ... 8c34_z.jpg

An example of modern Engineering and Science. Looks kind of out of place -
http://www.contemporist.com/photos/mode ... _mon04.jpg

Personally I like the latter.

For me the latter is alright, its not as bad as some of the modern crap i see here at home or elsewhere, but ive always been a sucker for older styled architecture, so i prefer the top one.

[Penguin Union Nation]

Sure, they matter.

However, speaking as an English major with a minor in Creative Writing, businesses won't ask you to construct a villanelle on their applications.

[Liriena]

Yes, they still matter.

The hard sciences tell us how we can do things, and the soft sciences tell us why we should do things.

Or why we do things.

[Dhiagar]

Not as much as the Conservative Arts.

Do you feel proud for that pun?

You can't make puns like that without a high quality liberal arts education.

[Aggicificicerous]

An example of Liberal Arts. Ancient Chinese architecture. Looks nice and seems to be in harmony with its surroundings.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2433/3617 ... 8c34_z.jpg

An example of modern Engineering and Science. Looks kind of out of place -
http://www.contemporist.com/photos/mode ... _mon04.jpg

Are you sure you didn't mix those two up? There's no way that second design is modern.

[New Werpland]

Personally I like the latter.

For me the latter is alright, its not as bad as some of the modern crap i see here at home or elsewhere, but ive always been a sucker for older styled architecture, so i prefer the top one.

You can't recreate old style architecture in a post modern world, it's just out of place and silly.

[Rio Cana]

An example of Liberal Arts. Ancient Chinese architecture. Looks nice and seems to be in harmony with its surroundings.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2433/3617 ... 8c34_z.jpg

An example of modern Engineering and Science. Looks kind of out of place -
http://www.contemporist.com/photos/mode ... _mon04.jpg

Are you sure you didn't mix those two up? There's no way that second design is modern.

In most places including China this would be modern.

This following page explains it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamcnelson/523442582/

[MERIZoC]

Of course.

[The Kievan People]

[b]Is a liberal arts/humanities (i.e. arts, history, literature, philosophy, etc.) focus (i.e. major, minor, concentration, etc.) a worth-while pursuit in a post-secondary education?

No.

It's a circle jerk.

In fairness though, there are a lot of academic circle jerks out there. Like macroeconomics. Or business school. Actually these teach you how make rich people throw money at you for not really doing anything.

[MERIZoC]

[b]Is a liberal arts/humanities (i.e. arts, history, literature, philosophy, etc.) focus (i.e. major, minor, concentration, etc.) a worth-while pursuit in a post-secondary education?

No.

It's a circle jerk.

In fairness though, there are a lot of academic circle jerks out there. Like macroeconomics. Or business school. Actually these teach you how make rich people throw money at you for not really doing anything.

…..wat

[Central Kadigan]

I studied both. I graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemistry, with a minor in English Literature. I'm now a couple of semesters away from a Masters in Analytical Biochemistry.

[The Kievan People]

…..wat

I think that was pretty clear.

[Vissegaard]

They do matter... to an extent. I feel like too many people "study" those nowadays in the country I'm living in without actually learning at least something useful and will eventually end up poor and bitter selling junk food at McDonald's. But mostly it's just a feeling, really. Anyway, the invisible hand of market will sort this out soon.

[United Marxist Nations]

They do matter... to an extent. I feel like too many people "study" those nowadays in the country I'm living in without actually learning at least something useful and will eventually end up poor and bitter selling junk food at McDonald's. But mostly it's just a feeling, really. Anyway, the invisible hand of market will sort this out soon.

The invisible hand of the market tends to be a bit of an asshole as far as effects on society go. People being poor throughout their lives because they were educated in something that corporations would prefer they didn't in is not a solution to a problem, it is a problem.

[Neutraligon]

Considering the liberal arts can include math and sciences (although even if those where not included), yes they most definitely matter.

[Vissegaard]

They do matter... to an extent. I feel like too many people "study" those nowadays in the country I'm living in without actually learning at least something useful and will eventually end up poor and bitter selling junk food at McDonald's. But mostly it's just a feeling, really. Anyway, the invisible hand of market will sort this out soon.

The invisible hand of the market tends to be a bit of an asshole as far as effects on society go. People being poor throughout their lives because they were educated in something that corporations would prefer they didn't in is not a solution to a problem, it is a problem.

Or... perhaps you could go learn something "the corporations" want you to and live a happy life of middle class member, don't you think?