The Modern Renascence
by F. Melian Stawell
“The authors argue that arts education has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the lives of learners as a means to communicate, heal, construct culture and build community, irrespective of the context and the new technologies that may emerge.”
“The author proposes that more emphasis be placed on humanities subjects in conjunction with technology related disciplines to engender more critical and creative thinking. She argues that this humanistic focus in higher education will equip learners with global social skills for the future as well as the foresight to help resolve the inequities of unchecked globalization that threaten sustainability.”
“The author argues that teaching philosophy from an early age will help develop values of empathy and open discourse, which in turn would help shape global citizens who are mindful and respectful of the diversity of opinions, ideas and ways of being in the world.”
The following remarks briefly explore Robert George’s distinction between liberty and license in the US. The common pursuit of a narrow and “limitless” self-interest are taken to suggest an impoverished idea of freedom.