I have looked at the comments,  and beyond what’s obvious–I’m getting a little tired of being presented with demands to provide “evidence” of a fairly standard historical account by someone who never provides any evidence of anything at all, just assertions– And I’ve decided the following: I will in fact stick with the standard historical…

Every once in a while something happens on this blog  that just makes my jaw drop–and that’s the kind of thing that happened when I checked the comments last night before going to bed. AB provides a list of all the things he thinks were accomplishments of the Renaissance. The problem is that very few…

Okay.  Let me see if I can get back on track here. To recap:  the question in these immediate sections is whether or not the traditional claim of proponents of a liberal arts education that such study will make us “self governing people” in the sense of being more self controlled and better able to…

I was a little nervous about labeling this post The Defense, Part 11, because I want to start with a few comments in general about the comments. And me being me, that could easily take up such a big whacking hunk of the post, that there will be no room left for the main point.…

So I’ve gotten to the end of another bizarre week–the craziness OUGHT to end about two weeks from now–and for the last little while I’ve been thinking over a few things. So let me answer them, and I’ll get back to real life and The Defense afterwards. First, I tried to say this outright, but…

Over the course of writing all this stuff, I’ve been continually amazed at how many people seem to think they have the right to demand that I do it on their terms, in their order, according to their standards, and then do it pronto, right now, I’m required. But this is a blog, not a…

Let me see if I can start at the beginning here, and be coherent. First, AB asks if I’m trying to prove that a liberal arts education makes some people good, or only if some people say it makes them good. I’d say I’m trying to prove either. I’ve said this now several times, but…

So, okay.  I’ve had some sleep.  Some. For what it’s worth, my “week” started nine days ago, on the Saturday before yesterday, when I showed up for my Saturday morning class and was the only person to show up.  No students. Not one of them.  I thought at the time that this did not bode…

I have departed from no field.  I have had a hell of a week. That said, I should point out what ought to be obvious–to say that a liberal arts education (or any other kind) can’t make you good if you choose not to be is not the same thing as saying that a liberal…

So, I’m going to try to calm down here.  I got up very late (for me) this morning, and I’m feeling a little frantic. Today I don’t have the time to write this, since I’ve got to teach almost immediately.  Tomorrow, I’m going to have the aftermath of today. But let me try to outline…