The Necessity of a Liberal Arts Education

When I was receiving a liberal arts education, I questioned everything. I did this in an inquisitive way, to examine the world around me, and to discover the deeper meaning of the texts I read.

After studying the natural sciences for a while, I stopped doing that because it only made my mind murkier. I already had to deal with theorems, proofs, axioms, and expressions. That was enough to occupy my mind.

However, I have t oargue that a liberal arts education is essential, no matter what profession or major you are in. The way policies are formed, the medium through which we communicate, the logic behind our reasonings, our language, our history, our society — all of them are essential to understanding where we’ve come from, why we are here, and where we are headed.

The Seven Liberal Arts

The Trivium (The Three Ways) These subjects focus on the mechanics of language, thought, and expression

• Grammatica → Grammar The study of language, reading, and writing.
• Rhetorica → Rhetoric The art of persuasion and effective speaking.
• Dialectica (or Logica) → Logic Reasoning, argument, and critical thinking

The Quadrivium (The Four Ways) These subjects focus on the mathematical understanding of the physical world:

• Arithmetica → Arithmetic The study of numbers.
• Musica → Music The study of proportions, harmony, and musical theory.
• Geometria → Geometry The study of shapes, space, and measurement.
• Astronomia → Astronomy The study of the stars and the cosmos.