What is your definition of the liberal arts?

[Saucycarpdog]

I've been looking at some previous threads about whether the liberal arts is as important as math or science. But I noticed there were different opinions about what subjects are actually a part of the liberal arts.

So, what you guys think?

 

[bobmus]

Anything that's an 'arts' course.

Drama, Art, Music, Film, English Literature. Also media studies.

They've got their place.

 

[aba1]

According to the dictionary it is the Art's and Sciences. I think most people forget about the sciences however. I also find people overlook artists and the amount they contribute to society, people often think traditional art and leave it at that but they forget all the different design and media fields.

 

[dyre]

All the things that are fun to learn but not very useful to major in, like English, History, and Philosophy.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

The subjects are interesting, the courses aren't, that's the main problem

 

[Chemical Alia]

A waste of time, money and space.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Sorry to hear about your inability to draw, man. Art is hard and not for everyone. :C

 

[aba1]

A waste of time, money and space.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Sorry to hear about your inability to draw, man. Art is hard and not for everyone. :C

Cheers to that I mean just staring at the computer screen right now you can see the results of at least 20 or more peoples design work

 

[orangeban]

According to wikipedia, the liberal arts were traditionally those subjects which were considered essential for free citizens to study. Today they include such subjects as History, Music, Literature, Science, Maths and Psychology.

However, most people seem to consider them to be the "fluffy" subjects, ones that are "useless" or just for people who want to skive a degree. Under this banner people include things like History, English Literature and Art.

I think those people need to get off their high horses. Oh, what's that, you've got a Physics degree? Well, that's fantastic but don't go around thinking it's much better than a History degree, a History degree takes as much if not more effort.

 

[Chemical Alia]

A waste of time, money and space.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Sorry to hear about your inability to draw, man. Art is hard and not for everyone. :C

Cheers to that I mean just staring at the computer screen right now you can see the results of at least 20 or more peoples design work

Haha, yeah. I'm glad it wasn't necessary to point out that fact. It's almost like someone makes the sites we visit and the games we play.

A waste of time, money and space.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Sorry to hear about your inability to draw, man. Art is hard and not for everyone. :C

I would have expected better than that from you.

Captcha: "never give up"

Peppy?

Hey, that's my academic background that everyone enjoys shitting upon. I've come to learn that the math and science snobs are really up there in rivaling the art snobs.

 

[Chemical Alia]

A waste of time, money and space.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Sorry to hear about your inability to draw, man. Art is hard and not for everyone. :C

Cheers to that I mean just staring at the computer screen right now you can see the results of at least 20 or more peoples design work

Haha, yeah. I'm glad it wasn't necessary to point out that fact. It's almost like someone makes the sites we visit and the games we play.

I would have expected better than that from you.

Captcha: "never give up"

Peppy?

Hey, that's my academic background that everyone enjoys shitting upon. I've come to learn that the math and science snobs are really up there in rivaling the art snobs.

 

[lobster1077]

Given that I'm currently studying for a degree in English and Media Production I realise that attaining any kind of employment from it will be significantly more strenuous than with science or computing. Here's the kicker though; I didn't want to study science or computing because they hold no appeal for me. Art and literature have an important place in society, however the general consensus devalues them when considering them as academic pursuits which is unfortunate as it discourages talented people from following their passions.

 

[Woodsey]

Anything that's an 'arts' course.

Drama, Art, Music, Film, English Literature. Also media studies.

They've got their place.

This.

And it depends on what you want to do. Maths degrees are brilliant if you want to go into something relating to it; presumably you're not doing, say, English so that you can go into engineering.

 

[tacotrainwreck]

Somebody has to make sure the burgers are well-done.

I started as a liberal arts major, but quickly shifted that when I realized that, in reality, it wasn't preparing me for anything except long discussions with other liberal arts students. Sounding smart does not pay bills.

 

[theSteamSupported]

AFAIAC, you can't earn a steady income with a liberal arts degree the same way you can with a scientific degree. At least not as easily, and I think that's what makes a liberal arts degree 'useless'.

In the end, creativity is the main requirement for a liberal arts degree to feed mouths.

 

[Dogstile]

Hey, that's my academic background that everyone enjoys shitting upon. I've come to learn that the math and science snobs are really up there in rivaling the art snobs.

So they don't think much of your degree so you think it's right to insult them directly?

This. I don't think much of people doing hairdressers course's because I can cut my own hair without training, does that give them a right to insult me?

Hell no is the answer.

And no, i'm not one for the arts.

 

[Chemical Alia]

Hey, that's my academic background that everyone enjoys shitting upon. I've come to learn that the math and science snobs are really up there in rivaling the art snobs.

So they don't think much of your degree so you think it's right to insult them directly?

I think you're taking what I said wayyy too seriously. It was a facetious response to what was hopefully a facetious comment.

 

[Luke Gomez]

Is this gonna be an actual discussion on what constitutes a liberal arts degree or just another dick waving by STEM majors? As it stands, it used to be that any degree (yes any) meant at least semi-decent employee just for virtue of having a degree. It's not that way anymore because of the economy. Maybe it'll get better, maybe it won't. Some people value the so called "soft" subjects like Philosophy and History, some don't. Nobody is gonna have their minds changed.

As for the subject at hand, I think a lot of people also throw in the "behavioural sciences" like sociology and psychology.