What Is a Liberal Education?

November 27th, 2013 / By Deborah J. Merritt

The Thanksgiving weekend is upon us. As you travel, feast, shop, give thanks, and draft exams, here are two questions to ponder:

1. What does a liberal education (also known by some as a “liberal arts” education) mean to you? See here for a distinction between the two phrases and a starter definition.

2. How does legal education fit within a liberal (or liberal arts) education?

Try these questions out on your friends and family members. Play Socrates with them and yourself: Don’t accept the first, most superficial, answers. Be concrete. See if people of different ages, genders, races, or social classes respond differently.

I welcome responses in the comments or by email (merritt52@gmail.com). I look forward to discussing those responses next week. Meanwhile, happy Thanksgiving!