The liberal arts influence | Jillian Stevens | TEDxVCU

Summary

The speaker passionately advocates for the importance of liberal arts education, emphasizing its role in developing general knowledge and intellectual capacities beyond vocational skills. They argue that liberal arts provide a broad perspective, enabling individuals to navigate life's complexities and ambiguities. The speaker also highlights the personal contentment that comes from applying liberal arts knowledge to everyday life, asserting its relevance in a society increasingly dominated by science and technology. They conclude by urging recognition of liberal arts' value in fostering critical thinking and self-expression, essential for a well-rounded society.

Takeaways

• 📚 Liberal arts are defined as studies in language, philosophy, and literature that aim to provide general knowledge and develop intellectual capacities such as reason and judgment.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of liberal arts in developing an open mind and specific skills to deal with life's ambiguities and complexities.
• 🏛 Liberal arts education is broad-based, preparing students to understand and navigate the world beyond the scope of their immediate studies.
• 📰 The speaker finds joy in seeing the connection between what is learned in class and current events, highlighting the relevance of liberal arts to everyday life.
• 🧐 Liberal arts are useful for developing intellectual capacities that allow individuals to make informed decisions and engage with complex issues.
• 💡 The speaker argues that liberal arts provide a sense of personal contentment and fulfillment that cannot be measured by money.
• 🌐 Liberal arts education enables individuals to ask questions about the world and analyze their surroundings, fostering critical thinking skills.
• 📚 The absence of liberal arts in society is illustrated through dystopian literature, which often portrays societies without the balance of humanities.
• 🗳️ Michael Lond's quote underscores the necessity of a liberal education for citizens in a democratic republic to make informed decisions and participate effectively in public life.
• 🌟 Liberal arts remain relevant and important in today's society, focusing on understanding the current state of various aspects of life and contributing to the future.
• 🚀 As the world becomes more dominated by science and technology, liberal arts serve as a grounding force for humanity, allowing for self-expression and constant analysis of the world.

Q & A

What is the definition of liberal arts according to Webster's Dictionary?

Liberal arts are college or university studies in areas such as language, philosophy, and literature, intended to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop general intellectual capacities like reason and judgment, as opposed to professional or vocational skills.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of 'general knowledge' and 'intellectual capacities' in the context of liberal arts?

The speaker emphasizes these aspects to highlight that liberal arts aim to provide a broad-based education that equips students with an open mind and a specific set of skills to deal with life's ambiguities and complexities.

What is the common question the speaker faces regarding their study of liberal arts?

The common question is about the practicality of studying liberal arts, with people often asking why they don't choose something more technical like nursing or engineering that guarantees a job.

How does the speaker respond to the question about the practicality of liberal arts?

The speaker responds by expressing their love for learning and how the knowledge gained from liberal arts is reflected in everyday life and headlines, emphasizing the value of understanding shared humanity and the factors governing daily life.

In what two ways does the speaker argue that liberal arts remain useful?

The speaker argues that liberal arts are useful in developing intellectual capacities and providing general knowledge, enabling students to deal with life's ambiguities, and in giving a sense of personal contentment by applying knowledge to everyday use.

What does the speaker mean by 'life isn't clean' and how does it relate to the liberal arts education?

'Life isn't clean' means that life is complex and full of difficult decisions and opinions. A liberal arts education helps students to have an open mind and the necessary skills to navigate these complexities.

How does the speaker describe the value of liberal arts in contributing to society?

The speaker describes the value of liberal arts as providing a sense of personal contentment and the ability to apply knowledge to everyday life, which cannot be measured by money but is very relevant and applicable in society.

What role does the speaker believe liberal arts education plays in a democratic society?

The speaker believes that a liberal arts education is crucial for citizens to understand what is happening around them, enabling them to make informed decisions and participate effectively in a democratic society.

What quote does the speaker use to emphasize the importance of liberal arts in a democratic republic?

The speaker uses a quote by Michael Lond, stating that in a democratic republic, it is necessary for all citizens to have at least the basics of a liberal education to adequately perform their minimal duty, such as voting.

How does the speaker conclude the importance of liberal arts in the context of a society dominated by science and technology?

The speaker concludes by stating that liberal arts should not be discounted in a world where science and technology reign supreme, as they allow for self-expression, fulfillment, and constant analysis of the world around us, keeping humanity grounded.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Essence of Liberal Arts Education

The speaker begins by defining liberal arts according to Webster's Dictionary, emphasizing the development of general knowledge and intellectual capacities such as reason and judgment. They address common misconceptions about the practicality of a liberal arts degree, arguing that it provides a broad-based education that equips students to deal with life's complexities. The speaker shares their personal passion for liberal arts, highlighting its ability to connect classroom learning with real-world events and to foster a deeper understanding of humanity and societal structures.

05:01

🌟 The Relevance of Liberal Arts in a Technological World

This paragraph delves into the ongoing relevance of liberal arts in an increasingly science- and technology-driven society. The speaker refutes the notion that liberal arts are 'useless' or 'soft majors,' asserting that they offer a critical balance to technical education by promoting self-expression, fulfillment, and continuous analysis of the world. They stress the importance of liberal arts in maintaining humanity's grounding and in enabling individuals to critically engage with and contribute to society, drawing on a quote by Michael Lond to underline the necessity of a liberal education for informed citizenship in a democratic republic.

Keywords

💡Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts refers to a broad field of study that includes humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. It is designed to foster critical thinking, communication skills, and a well-rounded education. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of liberal arts in developing general knowledge and intellectual capacities, such as reason and judgment, which are essential for understanding and navigating the complexities of life.

💡General Knowledge

General knowledge is a body of information that a person is expected to have in their cultural or social context. The video script mentions that liberal arts are intended to provide chiefly general knowledge, which means equipping students with a wide range of information and understanding that can be applied across various aspects of life and work.

💡Intellectual Capacities

Intellectual capacities encompass a range of cognitive abilities, including reasoning, critical thinking, and judgment. The speaker highlights that liberal arts education is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about developing these capacities, which are crucial for making informed decisions and engaging with complex issues.

💡Vocational Skills

Vocational skills are specific abilities or competencies that are required for a particular job or occupation. The script contrasts these with the general knowledge and intellectual capacities developed through liberal arts, suggesting that while vocational skills are important for specific careers, liberal arts provide a broader foundation applicable to a range of life situations.

💡Broad-Based Education

A broad-based education is one that covers a wide range of subjects and disciplines, rather than focusing on a single area of study. The speaker argues that liberal arts provide such an education, giving students an open mind and a versatile set of skills that can be applied to various challenges and ambiguities in life.

💡Ambiguities of Life

Ambiguities of life refer to the uncertainties, complexities, and gray areas that one encounters in personal and professional contexts. The speaker uses this term to illustrate the value of liberal arts in preparing students to deal with the messiness and unpredictability of real-world situations.

💡STEM

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is an educational approach that integrates these areas to prepare students for careers in science and technology. The script mentions STEM in contrast to liberal arts, suggesting that a well-rounded education should include both to understand and engage with the world comprehensively.

💡Personal Content

Personal content refers to a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction derived from one's work or life activities. The speaker shares that liberal arts provide a sense of personal content by allowing individuals to apply their knowledge to everyday situations, which is a form of fulfillment that transcends monetary value.

💡Dystopian Literature

Dystopian literature is a genre that depicts a society characterized by oppression or control, often as a critique of contemporary social and political issues. The speaker references dystopian works like 1984 and Brave New World to illustrate the importance of liberal arts in maintaining a critical perspective on society and preventing such dystopian scenarios.

💡Citizenship

Citizenship in the context of the video refers to the responsibilities and roles individuals play in a democratic society. The speaker cites Michael Lond's quote to emphasize that a basic liberal education is necessary for citizens to understand and participate effectively in public life, even if it's limited to voting.

💡Science and Technology

Science and technology are fields that study the physical and natural world and its phenomena, and the application of scientific knowledge to develop new tools and systems. The script suggests that as society increasingly values these fields, the role of liberal arts in maintaining a balanced perspective and fostering self-expression and critical analysis remains crucial.

Highlights

Liberal arts are defined by Webster's Dictionary as studies in language, philosophy, and literature that provide general knowledge and develop intellectual capacities such as reason and judgment.

Liberal arts education is intended to be broad-based, providing an open mind with a specific set of skills.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of liberal arts in dealing with life's ambiguities and complexities.

Liberal arts students are trained to understand and analyze the world around them, including both scientific and humanistic perspectives.

The speaker discusses the personal contentment derived from applying liberal arts knowledge to everyday life.

Liberal arts education is described as providing a sense of personal contentment that is intangible and not measured by money.

The speaker argues that liberal arts enable individuals to ask questions and analyze the world, contributing to a better understanding of societal issues.

Dystopian literature examples such as 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451 illustrate the potential consequences of a society without liberal arts.

The importance of liberal arts in focusing on the current state of politics, economics, and society is underscored.

Liberal arts are essential for contributing to the future through improvements, suggestions, and civic engagement.

Michael Lond's quote highlights the necessity of a basic liberal education for all citizens in a democratic republic.

The speaker asserts that liberal arts education is crucial for citizens to understand and participate in public life.

The power in a democracy is supposed to come from the people, and for them to make informed decisions, they need education in both sciences and liberal arts.

Some may view liberal arts as useless or soft majors, but the speaker argues that they are vital for keeping humanity grounded in a world dominated by science and technology.

Liberal arts allow for self-expression, fulfillment, and constant analysis of the world, which are essential as society advances.

The speaker concludes by urging the audience not to discount liberal arts in a society where science and technology are paramount.

Transcripts

so I'm here to talk about what is

liberal arts but in order to do that I

think we all need to have a common

definition of um what it is so Webster's

Dictionary defines liberal arts as

college or university studies as

language philosophy and literature

intended to provide chiefly general

knowledge and to develop General

intellectual capacities as reason and

judgment as opposed to professional or

vocational

skills so that's a really big definition

that's a really big mouthful um but

there are two things I want you to

remember from that the first is when it

says uh intended to provide chiefly

general knowledge and the second was

when it's said to develop General

intellectual capacities

so why liberal arts why am I up here

speaking to 1,00 of my closest friends

friends uh about liberal arts I always

go home for uh holidays and breaks and

my family and colleagues even ask me

what are you going to do with that and a

lot of people get that question a lot of

college students will get that question

but the follow-up question is the one

that really differentiates they always

ask why not pick something more

technical like nursing or engineering

something that is definitely going to

get you a job and I never know how to

react to that question

um but my response is that I love what

I'm learning I love going to class and

then reading the headlines in the

newspaper the next day and what I've

learned in class is right there in the

headlines I love learning more about our

shared humanity and I love more learning

more about what governs our everyday

lives so there are two ways that liberal

arts are still useful the first is uh

going back to those two things I wanted

you to remember from the definition uh

to develop intellectual capacities and

to um intended to provide chiefly

general knowledge so liberal arts is

meant to be broad-based it's it's meant

to give you a very open mind with a

specific set of

skills um and a student who is trained

in Liberal Arts is able to take that

broad education and deal with the

ambiguities of life and what I mean by

that is life isn't clean it's not simple

there's a lot of hard decisions and opin

opions to be made and in order to do

that you need to have an open mind you

need to be trained in not only the

Sciences um Fields like stem which is

science technology engineering and math

but the liberal arts as well so you

understand what is going on around you

the second reason liberal arts is still

very useful is slightly more cliche and

I touched on it earlier when I mentioned

uh why it matters to

me liberal arts is still useful because

it gives you a sense of personal content

um I'm not going to make as much money

as someone who is a doctor or in NASA um

or doing research in a lab but the fact

that I can apply my knowledge to

Everyday Use is something that no one

can ever take away from me um my

knowledge is intangible it's unable to

be measured by money but it is still

very relevant and still very applicable

in today's

society um it also enables you to ask

questions about the world and it it

allows you to analyze the world around

you why does this matter to me what did

I just read in the newspaper and

literature has showed us what the world

would be like without liberal arts a lot

of that classic dystopian literature

such as 1984 Brave New World um or

Fahrenheit 451 so why does this matter

why do liberal arts still matter I want

people to realize that liberal arts do

still matter it's still very applicable

in today's society liberal arts focuses

on what is we focus on the current state

of politics or economics where is

society going um philosophical questions

anything you can really think of we

focus on what is so we're able to

contribute to what will be uh through

improvements suggestions writing to your

Congressman uh just talking to your

neighbor anything uh Michael lond is a

political writer and he has a great

quote and he says in a Democratic

Republic isn't it necessary for all

citizens to have at least the basics of

a liberal education even if their partip

participation in public life is limited

to voting occasionally citizens cannot

adequately perform that minimal Duty

unless they have training and reasoning

and rhetoric so that's another really

big quote what does that mean liberal

arts is still important so that citizens

understand what is going on around them

in a democracy whether or not people

still believe this is true the power is

supposed to come from the people so in

order for the people to be educated and

make decisions where is society going

who do I want representing me in order

to do that they need to be educated in

the

sciences and what's going on around them

the world around them that governs a lot

of their everyday lives

ultimately some people may walk away

from this Ted Talk they may leave this

event today and they may continue to

call these studies useless or soft

Majors but liberal art should be

considered as the one thing that might

keep Humanity grounded as we move into a

world where Science and Technology reign

supreme liberal arts allow for

self-expression and fulfillment and they

allow for constant analysis of the world

around us so again as the world moves

into a society where Science and

Technology reign supreme don't count

liberal arts out just yet thank

you