Pre-Reading: This reading will possibly will be about how society doesn’t use critical thinking and liberal arts when things go wrong. They’ve become less common amongst today’s society. People don’t look to use these resources and tools to help them when they are down. Liberal arts means freedom of thought and falls under no specific domain.
What are the liberal arts?
Liberal arts are a combination of multiple practices in a general overall practice. Critical thinking is one of the main important aspects of liberal arts and is incorporated throughout the practice. It’s a practice that consists more of open thoughts than facts.
“At its best, a liberal education isn’t intended to inculcate practical skills or to dump data into students’ brains, though it may teach a fact or two” (Scheuer). – So how will students succeed with a practical job or a job that requires specific knowledge with only general knowledge about multiple topics.
Why do we need the liberal arts?
Liberal arts contains three important factors: traditional civic dimension, economic citizenship, cultural citizenship. Even though, liberal arts doesn’t teach about specific skills it teaches those three aspects, which help a community to thrive. This type of education wants to create citizens that positively impact the community.
“And the liberal arts prepare students for citizenship in all three senses—civic, economic, and cultural” (Scheuer). – Citizenship is crucial to having a well functioning society. However, how will the society survive if its member are unable to perform certain and specific tasks?
What is critical thinking?
Critical thinking is a major tool that is acquired through a liberal arts education. It is a form of higher up thinking that teaches people how to think and make connections in their lives. It is more of a long term value than short term like the sciences.
“Because critical thinking is a complex skill, any attempt to offer a full and definitive definition of it would be futile” (Tsui). – The author uses this quote to help support his argument, but it also hurts his argument. In the beginning of this section the author does define the term critical thinking. He even refutes himself by giving a definition then says it can be difficult to give an exact definition, which he did.
The importance of critical inquiry
Critical inquiry guides students on a pathway of a general overall knowledge that will help them be well put together citizens. It’s important for member of a society to incorporate not only STEM material, but also liberal arts material in order to have a healthy community. Liberal arts is growing in other parts of the work because of its importance to societies.
“The STEM disciplines are obviously important to economic productivity, but so is the entire rainbow of human knowledge and the ability to think critically” (Scheuer). – Students are able to learn critical thinking at a STEM school. Critical thinking is not something that is solely learned at a liberal arts school, which this article seems to be making a case about.
