Philosophy and the Endangered Liberal Arts

What is Philosophy?

What are the Liberal Arts?

This...

...not so much this.

'Liberal'

"of freedom, pertaining to or befitting a free person"

'Art'

"skill as a result of learning or practice"

The Liberal Arts are the skills of freedom. They are those things that should be learned and practiced in order that one might preserve one's freedom (and that of others), and so that one might exercise one's freedom responsibly and skillfully in society.

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The Liberal Arts Empower Us To:

The curriculum changes, but Philosophy never leaves its heart.

• analyze and interpret information
• form, express, and debate informed opinions
• understand how history, society and culture shape one's social context
• appreciate, understand, and participate in creating human culture
• better understand human nature--including one's own nature
• make sound, autonomous judgments--both alone and with others--respecting one's own welfare, and that of others