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I continue to find great value in the Liberal Arts courses that I took when I went to University. Philosophy, in particular, serves me a great deal: it has hel

by moosey 8y ago

I continue to find great value in the Liberal Arts courses that I took when I went to University. Philosophy, in particular, serves me a great deal: it has helped me to understand the world and personal narratives that I live under, and aided me in finding an ethical framework that I might not have developed otherwise. Regardless, courses in English, Literature, and other courses I had to take outside of my main coursework for Computer Science has made my personal experience better, I believe, or at least more fulfilling. I believe that it is also the job of a good education to prepare someone to be a good member of a Democracy, and as part of that one must be able to accept other tolerant points of view, and be able to reach compromise. Courses all throughout our education should aid us in developing the empathy necessary for the process to work. It appears that we have failed, in the US, in this regard. Quite horribly.

hnzix 8y ago
In some Universities these mandatory Liberal Arts "electives" are fluffy filler topics where you are forced to buy the textbook written by the lecturer. You can only choose between four equally fluffy filler topics per semester. I was fucking furious when I realized I'd been duped. I'm a voracious omnivore and I do believe Universities should promote wider learning but this was a straight up money extraction scam.
- jhbadger 8y ago
  I think it is worse the other way around though. Science majors generally have to take real history and English classes, often side by side with humanities students. Humanities majors generally are corralled into things like "Biology and You" and "Physics for Poets". It's unfortunate because it isn't surprising that these people then fall for the postmodern critique of science as nothing particularly special because they've only been exposed to dumbed-down versions of it.
  - moosey 8y ago
    Watching my daughter struggle with some difficult course choices that she made in high school, I find it troubling how our entire grading system works. We shouldn't be punished for choosing difficult courses, and actually learning the material, even if it is slightly behind the pace of the course itself. Unfortunately, doing so has implications for your entire future in the United States (unless you have the money to buy your way into college, of course).
- moosey 8y ago
  I've been thinking about this comment a lot the last few days. It could be specific to the University I went to, or some aspect of the fact that I went to a Jesuit University that made the quality of the philosophy coursework I took so high. Regardless, I'm sorry you had that experience.

by moosey 8y ago

hnzix 8y ago

In some Universities these mandatory Liberal Arts "electives" are fluffy filler topics where you are forced to buy the textbook written by the lecturer. You can only choose between four equally fluffy filler topics per semester. I was fucking furious when I realized I'd been duped. I'm a voracious omnivore and I do believe Universities should promote wider learning but this was a straight up money extraction scam.

jhbadger 8y ago
I think it is worse the other way around though. Science majors generally have to take real history and English classes, often side by side with humanities students. Humanities majors generally are corralled into things like "Biology and You" and "Physics for Poets". It's unfortunate because it isn't surprising that these people then fall for the postmodern critique of science as nothing particularly special because they've only been exposed to dumbed-down versions of it.
- moosey 8y ago
  Watching my daughter struggle with some difficult course choices that she made in high school, I find it troubling how our entire grading system works. We shouldn't be punished for choosing difficult courses, and actually learning the material, even if it is slightly behind the pace of the course itself. Unfortunately, doing so has implications for your entire future in the United States (unless you have the money to buy your way into college, of course).
moosey 8y ago
I've been thinking about this comment a lot the last few days. It could be specific to the University I went to, or some aspect of the fact that I went to a Jesuit University that made the quality of the philosophy coursework I took so high. Regardless, I'm sorry you had that experience.