Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

In response to the question in the headline Bryan Alexander begins with a survey of what can be meant by 'liberal education' before reaching the conclusion that this article basically addresses learning in the humanities at a particular college. Even in this college, the humanities is likely to survive, albeit at a reduced scale. As ever. But he concludes the article on a sombre note. Revisiting the different definitions of 'liberal arts' he suggests that some of these models may be in trouble. 'Learning for its own sake,' for example. "I think macroeconomics will take this kind of liberal education to the elite and restrict it there... Increasingly only those who can afford to clear out several years purely for the free play of intellectual exploration will be able to do so."

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024 04:04 a.m.

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