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This topic has moved here: Subject: So what exactly is wrong with majoring in liberal arts?
  • Subject: So what exactly is wrong with majoring in liberal arts?
Subject: So what exactly is wrong with majoring in liberal arts?

You come across as a very close minded individual. It's a really simple concept: You go to school to learn and be able to do a better job. Majoring in something like that means you will not be using that education to contribute to society, so you're a drain on our resources instead of an asset. Added to that, you'll need even more training to be able to do any sort of specialized job, meaning you'll most likely have to stick to a job that is low in demand and low in job variety. This further leads to a more miserable life for you.

In the end, nobody wins.

  • 11.27.2012 1:58 PM PDT
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Posted by: Telec
Remember kids: when Uncle Delta tells you he has sweeties, he isn't lying.

Now get in the van.


The Black Chapter


Posted by: MyNameIsCharlie


I have a BA in history. I use it in the random conversation, and that's it. I use my MBA daily.


So far I can see a History degree imbues the ability to analyse and critique, to research appropriately and to be objective.
These are pretty useful abilities for the average employee.

The majority of 'Liberal Arts' degrees (and lets not forget that Mathematics and the Sciences are included in that web) have a heavy focus on transferable skills. No-one gives a -blam!- that I know anything about the Medieval Period, but they will give a -blam!- about the skills I pick up in the course of my degree.

ITT: No-one actually knowing what constitutes 'Liberal Arts'

[Edited on 11.27.2012 2:01 PM PST]

  • 11.27.2012 1:58 PM PDT


Posted by: Adamal123

Posted by: brandorobot
You can do whatever you want. This is the last place to look for advice on your life choices.
I am not looking for an opinion. Most of the people here are narrow minded, self-centered idiots to ask for an honest opinion from them.


And yet it is you who does the Liberal Arts degree.

  • 11.27.2012 1:58 PM PDT

The cake is a pie


Posted by: UK Dark Wolf360

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.

And happiness is the ultimate point of life.


Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Please, please tell me you are joking.

Well liberal arts themselves suggest that what he says might be true. Instead of simply throwing the point to one side, wouldn't it be far more intellectually sound to first understand that you do not know the answer to the question, and then explore the material on the subject? Haven't you ever had something so central to your beliefs simply destroyed by one undeniable argument? Don't you understand how frail knowledge really is?

  • 11.27.2012 1:59 PM PDT

Posted by: UK Dark Wolf360
Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.

And happiness is the ultimate point of life.


Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Please, please tell me you are joking.

So incredibly relevant.

  • 11.27.2012 1:59 PM PDT

+1 for you good sir.


Posted by: Taylor Swift 13

Posted by: Adamal123

Posted by: brandorobot
You can do whatever you want. This is the last place to look for advice on your life choices.
I am not looking for an opinion. Most of the people here are narrow minded, self-centered idiots to ask for an honest opinion from them.


And yet it is you who does the Liberal Arts degree.

I've been on this website for 4 years. I can make an analyses on the users here. And I am taking Sociology to actually open my mind up. I'll probably take something else on the side of course, but I don't think Sociology is comepletly useless like people here think.

  • 11.27.2012 2:00 PM PDT

The cake is a pie


Posted by: deltahalo UK

Posted by: MyNameIsCharlie


I have a BA in history. I use it in the random conversation, and that's it. I use my MBA daily.


So far I can see a History degree imbues the ability to analyse and critique, to research appropriately and to be objective.
These are pretty useful abilities for the average employee.

Not to mention the benefit of not repeating it. Can you imagine if we were all well-educated on history? Everywhere, but particularly in western democracies, political and social direction would be more guided, and people's lives would generally be better. Unless we think that evidence is completely irrelevant of our own lives, in which case why not just throw science itself out of the window?

  • 11.27.2012 2:01 PM PDT
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Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.
Without science there would be no medicine and people would die in droves from easily treatable diseases.

Science improves our understanding of the world around us, and in turn our own minds.


Posted by: Garem
And happiness is the ultimate point of life.
That's debatable.

  • 11.27.2012 2:01 PM PDT

心の中に弱い風が吹いています。

Translator/Interpreter becomes top profession for 2012

Yeah, I'll take my chances with getting my Japanese degree.

  • 11.27.2012 2:02 PM PDT
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Posted by: Telec
Remember kids: when Uncle Delta tells you he has sweeties, he isn't lying.

Now get in the van.


The Black Chapter


Posted by: Bryanesie
Translator/Interpreter becomes top profession for 2012

Yeah, I'll take my chances with getting my Japanese degree.


languages fall under 'Liberal Arts'.

  • 11.27.2012 2:03 PM PDT

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Posted by: Ultermarto

Posted by: deltahalo UK

Posted by: MyNameIsCharlie


I have a BA in history. I use it in the random conversation, and that's it. I use my MBA daily.


So far I can see a History degree imbues the ability to analyse and critique, to research appropriately and to be objective.
These are pretty useful abilities for the average employee.

Not to mention the benefit of not repeating it. Can you imagine if we were all well-educated on history? Everywhere, but particularly in western democracies, political and social direction would be more guided, and people's lives would generally be better. Unless we think that evidence is completely irrelevant of our own lives, in which case why not just throw science itself out of the window?
So, you are just going to ignore my whole post then?

  • 11.27.2012 2:03 PM PDT

Science is what makes man powerful.

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.

  • 11.27.2012 2:04 PM PDT

-I was here

the point of college may be to learn, but the reason for learning the stuff is to increase your marketability.

also, I would like to point out that the vast majority of the "occupy wallstreet" and "99%" idiots who were demanding handouts and such because their degree was useless were in fact, liberal arts majors.

I will grant however that not all of the liberal arts are useless, as certain ones in the social science and language departments can get you jobs in human resources. However, if you're getting a degree in something like fine art, 12th century English literature, or something of the like, Then I reserve the right to call you a -blam!- moron and bid you luck with your job at Kinko's.

  • 11.27.2012 2:04 PM PDT

-blam!- Was that actually blammed out? Or did I just type it? You'll never know.

Posted by: Ultermarto
The point of going to college is to learn. The sooner people understand this, the sooner we can get the damn education system out of teaching to the test.
No it isn't.

When you pay for University or College you are not paying to learn, you are paying for their certification that you've completed courses in a certain field. Learning does not have a price further than the cost of books which contain the knowledge you'd like to learn. You're essentially paying the establishment to vouch for you and say, "Yup, they've done courses in this stuff." Which is of course why some universities are more expensive than others, their word means more. They hold a monopoly on the futures of American youths because having at least a bachelor's degree is basically the bar now for employment beyond minimum wage.

The point of going to University or College is to get a degree, and the only reason you would need a degree is for employment.

  • 11.27.2012 2:05 PM PDT

心の中に弱い風が吹いています。


Posted by: deltahalo UK

Posted by: Bryanesie
Translator/Interpreter becomes top profession for 2012

Yeah, I'll take my chances with getting my Japanese degree.


languages fall under 'Liberal Arts'.
Yeah, that's why I posted that.

  • 11.27.2012 2:05 PM PDT

Posted by: Alex Mac Kee
If pen­ises were planes Jimmy's mouth would be an airport


Posted by: DarkBen64
Don't punch a British kid, the queen'll come after you.

Posted by: UK Dark Wolf360
Haha, "understanding people" - yeah, okay, it's nothing that those who take a proper subject like biological sciences (neuroscience in the "understanding people" case) can't do. "Liberal arts" and the like are subjects which one can take as a part time hobby - the contact hours of a degree course in such a subject would allows this.
There's a difference between understanding people and understanding the things going on inside people.

I really don't like this air of perceived superiority that many STEM students give off as if they are "above" such silly things as "the arts".

  • 11.27.2012 2:06 PM PDT

Posted by: AJF1177

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.
Without science there would be no medicine and people would die in droves from easily treatable diseases.

Science improves our understanding of the world around us, and in turn our own minds.


Posted by: Garem
And happiness is the ultimate point of life.
That's debatable.
Look at the Native Americans. They ate healthy and lived healthy. Due to this, they had very little disease. Coincidence? I don't think so.

  • 11.27.2012 2:06 PM PDT
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Posted by: Telec
Remember kids: when Uncle Delta tells you he has sweeties, he isn't lying.

Now get in the van.


The Black Chapter

Ah ok, I thought you were going the other way with that comment.
Just seems in this thread that nobody actually knows what subjects form the 'Liberal Arts'

  • 11.27.2012 2:06 PM PDT

Posted by: Gaara444
Science is what makes man powerful.

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.
Power is weakness. We don't need power to feel whole.

[Edited on 11.27.2012 2:07 PM PST]

  • 11.27.2012 2:07 PM PDT

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Posted by: Garem
Posted by: AJF1177

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.
Without science there would be no medicine and people would die in droves from easily treatable diseases.

Science improves our understanding of the world around us, and in turn our own minds.


Posted by: Garem
And happiness is the ultimate point of life.
That's debatable.
Look at the Native Americans. They ate healthy and lived healthy. Due to this, they had very little disease. Coincidence? I don't think so.
But we aren't Native Americans, and we don't live in a world that operates like it did back then. Times change.

  • 11.27.2012 2:08 PM PDT
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Posted by: Garem
Posted by: AJF1177

Posted by: Garem
Who says we need all those things? The most we advance scientifically, the less happy we become as a whole.
Without science there would be no medicine and people would die in droves from easily treatable diseases.

Science improves our understanding of the world around us, and in turn our own minds.


Posted by: Garem
And happiness is the ultimate point of life.
That's debatable.
Look at the Native Americans. They ate healthy and lived healthy. Due to this, they had very little disease. Coincidence? I don't think so.
Look at the black plague in Europe, if medical treatment was advanced enough it might not have been as devastating.

If everyone had your mindset we would never reach the stars or learn the mysteries of the universe, we would just be a bunch of hunters and gatherers.

  • 11.27.2012 2:09 PM PDT

Posted by: Alex Mac Kee
If pen­ises were planes Jimmy's mouth would be an airport


Posted by: DarkBen64
Don't punch a British kid, the queen'll come after you.

I think the mistake everyone is making is trying to put one above the other.

I think they are both equally important IN DIFFERENT RESPECTS.

  • 11.27.2012 2:09 PM PDT
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I can understand the argument about the lack of job opportunities. I would want something a bit more financially stable.

But I do believe that many Americans overlook the value of their education. It's strictly work, work, work through the "necessary" courses for your desired job (i.e. sciences for a pre-med route). At least to me, I feel society needs well-rounded people, which entails that they took various courses, including those that fall under "liberal arts." It's not the same as majoring in it but to completely dismiss those subjects? It's the wrong mindset in my opinion.

  • 11.27.2012 2:10 PM PDT

Key


Posted by: Jagdflieger
ITT:capitalist drones who think the only value of an education is the job one gets out of it
ITSociety: High-paying jobs require a degree relative to that job, or a rich daddy.

©

  • 11.27.2012 2:10 PM PDT

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Posted by: Jayd Sky
It's amazing how utterly opposed American culture seems to be to the idea of going to university to enrich understanding, knowledge, and perspective as opposed to just getting a fatter pay cheque.

It might be because of the insane amounts of money you guys have to pay for a degree though. It might force you to see it as a financial investment rather than a holistic one.

I live in a country where anyone can access University if they have the skills for it without having gigantic debts in the end. I still think you should never choose a major that doesn't have a promising financial future.

  • 11.27.2012 2:11 PM PDT