Where did liberal arts education originate?
The roots of liberal arts education in western civilization are usually traced to ancient Greece, where political philosophers such as Aristotle wrote of the need for citizens to be broadly educated. The actual phrase “liberal arts” arose from the Latin expression for the “best arts” (optimae artes). The term first appeared in the writings of the Roman jurist Cicero, who argued the study of mathematics, nature, and the humanities were critical to intellectual curiosity, sound reasoning, personal fulfillment, and responsible citizenship. “Liberal arts education” or “liberal learning” has nothing to do with liberal or conservative politics; rather, the phrases connote the liberation of the individual (through education) from ignorance or superstition.
