Liberal Education

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the concept of liberal education, showing that it has included many philosophies over the centuries. In order to arrive at a current theory of liberal education, and in order to determine the relevance of liberal education in contemporary society, the various concepts attached to this ideal are briefly considered.

From the Paper:

"Liberal education, originating in concept as "liberal arts", was made up of two parts during its existence in the medieval curriculum (Adler, 2003). These parts were known as trivium and quadivium. Trivium included reading and writing, of listening, speaking, and sound thinking. Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music were taught as part of quadivium. In order to renew this concept of liberal education, new sciences have been added. According to this concept then the traditional arts are taught in liberal education today, as well as the newer sciences that have arisen as a result of human development over the centuries. Thus it is argued that the best of knowledge is included in this ideal. Adler (2003) further stresses the importance of liberal education to scientific creativity. In fact, he cites the example of 19th-century German scientist who took Greek, Latin, logic, philosophy, and history with mathematics, physics, and other sciences as part of their education. "

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