The Liberal Arts and Living "the Good Life"

You are here—now what? In this seminar we will reflect on this pivotal moment in your intellectual journey. We will consider key questions that help us understand why a liberal arts education offers more than ‘useless knowledge’ and is instead an investment in the good of the soul and the community: What does it mean—and has it meant--to live ‘the good life’? We will read critical writings about American liberal arts education; selected philosophical and sacred texts as they pertain to living ‘the good life’; and creative works such as Orwell’s /1984/ and Martel’s /Life of Pi/. We’ll slow down and deepen your learning process--and get another step closer to identifying a sense of meaning and purpose for your four years at Middlebury. 3 hrs. sem.