The Purpose Of A University And A Liberal Arts Education | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

The Purpose Of A University And A Liberal Arts Education

Why I see universities as essential to society

50
The Purpose Of A University And A Liberal Arts Education
pexels.com

Today our universities are under attack by radical left wing authoritarian groups who wish to undermine the principles and purposes of a liberal arts education. Several of these radical groups, such as Antifa, try to silence opposition with fear and violence. Riots and ideological battles are being waged in the west, and many fall on university campuses.

Our universities provide a free intellectual atmosphere for students to learn and express opinions. Major ideas are birthed and debated in the University, and worldviews are formed and destroyed in the halls of Harvard, Yale, Toronto, Oxford and many other schools.

The radical left would like to see the destruction of this. For this reason, I write what I believe to be the purpose of a liberal arts school, and why it is worth protecting. There are several purposes to a liberal arts education, but I will for the sake of brevity provide what I see as the most important.

1. The creation of a well-rounded individual:

A liberal arts school provides a variety of classes in philosophy, literature, history and the sciences. This variety of classes is meant to give individuals a wide range of knowledge and opinions. Today, many go to college solely for the purpose of acquiring a future job which pays well. Few go to the university to grow the individual self. A liberal arts school educates and creates an individual who is able to draw from his wide range of knowledge in society from what he's learned to function in a highly competitive job market. A liberal arts degree can make one well rounded, cultured, and wiser in a society which is drowning in information and thirsty for common sense.

2. A place of wonder and intellectual curiosity:

A good liberal arts education will leave one thirsting for more knowledge and wisdom. Learning does not end at the university. Instead, it continuous throughout our lives. The university simply provides the means by which one learns to acquire more information. While learning at my university I have experienced a sense of curiosity and wonder at how ignorant I am. With every class, I wish to become more informed, knowledgeable and wise. There is inspiration in the university that can continue throughout the life of an individual. Not only does the university grow the individual, but also provides inspiration for the rest of his or her life.

3. A place of free expression:

Worldviews are often battled for and destroyed in the university. Many fail to see how important a university's influence is on the ideas of society. The Communist regime brainwashed millions of youths to create a patriotic slave ideology that led to the deaths of millions. Postmodern thought began with individuals like Foucault and Derrida whose works and lectures has already convinced many in the west to abandon objective truth, reality, and morality. If free expression ends in the university the university then it ends in society as well. Discourse and debate must be able to breathe in a space which protects the individual and not ideas. Without this, our society will enter into a new realm of chaos and disillusionment on the same of level of Communist Russia.

Conclusion:

In the midst of the carnage and blood bath of the second World War, three students in Nazi Germany would protest at the University of Munich. These students saw the Nazi regime as what it was: a regime of war and genocide. Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl and Christoph Probst were all detained and guillotined by the Gestapo for distributing only six leaflets which denounced Hitler. The last words of Scholl were "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go. But what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?"

German universities were Nazified to create brainwashed citizens who owned no intellectual self, and whose only purpose was to serve the Nazi regime. I strongly believe this is where the radical left is leading us. Do not let the opposition silence by force ideas that are contrary to their ideology. Instead, let us let the truth guide is.

The truth drives away the darkness and is a weapon against tyranny, intimidation and violence. To drive, to tell the truth in a free space of intellectual growth and enjoyment, is crucial for the betterment of society. Those who tell the truth, like Scholl, have little fear for it has set them free from the darkness and fears of this world that screams obscene realities into action. If we let it, the truth will set all of us free. Do not let radicals take away our precious means of education, our freedom of speech, and source of inspiration.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2298
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1385
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200623
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21170
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments