Martha Nussbaum On Liberal Education

Throughout history, numerous people have attempted to define the purpose of education. Because of the extensiveness of education, settling on one form of an academic system has always been a challenge. People’s views of education are oftentimes based on their values, culture, religious beliefs, and environment. Thus, every person has their own definition and perception of education. Although views of education differ from person to person, there are certain aspects of academics which are valued by many. As depicted by Martha Nussbaum in “Education for Profit, Education for Democracy” and by Seneca in “On Liberal and Vocational Studies,” liberal education has had a significant impact throughout history by shaping people’s views of the world,
Although “On Liberal and Vocational Studies” has been written centuries before Nussbaum’s “Education for Profit, Education for Democracy,” these two texts emphasize the importance of liberal education for personal growth, not just monetary gain. When discussing his attitude towards liberal studies, Seneca claims to “have no respect for any study whatsoever if its end is the making of money” (14). Nussbaum has a similar perspective as she does not believe that education should solely focus on economic-related issues of the nation, as those often only benefit wealthy and powerful individuals. However, she believes that liberal education is the key to limiting discrepancies between social classes and minimizing poverty as it generates “informed, independent, and sympathetic democratic citizens” (Nussbaum 65). Furthermore, Seneca claims that liberal arts “prepare the mind for the acquisition of moral values” (16). He does not believe that liberal education gives a person any wisdom, but instead- aids the person’s understanding of the world as well as of himself or herself. To Seneca, the understanding of one’s place in the world is imperative for understanding the part the one plays in the world, thus people should pursue education in the humanities as it will give them an insight to how they are connected to everyone around them. The values which Seneca believes people gain from studying the humanities resemble those which Nussbaum also considers important. These two authors highlight the significance of self improvement and development through the acquisition of knowledge. Overall, liberal education is clearly valued throughout history as Seneca’s “On Liberal and Vocational Studies” and Nussbaum’s “Education for Profit, Education for Democracy” emphasize the importance of studying humanities, despite their almost two thousand year