Category Archives: Liberal Arts

Thou Shalt Pursue a Liberal Education

Posted on February 28, 2013 by marklangley

Where did the Lord command man to pursue a liberal education? Or maybe we might ask, what commandment do people break when they refuse to pursue a liberal education? “That’s ridiculous!” you say, “everyone is free to choose the kind of … Continue reading →

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Waking Up

Posted on February 23, 2013 by marklangley

As we were discussing the Decalogue in my Ethics class the other day, a question came up which struck me with new force. I say “struck me with new force” because I think the last time the question struck me … Continue reading →

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The first Characteristic of Wisdom

Posted on December 28, 2012 by marklangley

Speaking of wisdom, perhaps it would be good to review four characteristics that will help us to distinguish the kind of knowledge that it is. I do but merely transcribe from the fading memory of a certain lecture these humble … Continue reading →

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The Curse of Liberal Education… Continued

Posted on August 18, 2012 by marklangley

As much as I have always loved liberal education, even I will admit that it does have a fairly obvious downside. I call this downside “the curse of liberal education.” What is this curse? Quite simply, liberal education arouses the … Continue reading →

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The phrase “Catholic Education” is a redundancy.

Posted on July 28, 2012 by marklangley

The cultivation of the intellect is a Catholic enterprise. All education, insofar as it is authentic education, is Catholic. And therefore, when we speak about the Catholic principles of education we are, in truth, speaking about nothing other than the … Continue reading →

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One World in Common

Posted on March 12, 2012 by marklangley

The waking have one world in common, whereas each sleeper turns away to a private world of his own. I think I need to write a song with that title. Sounds like a perfect song for some sort of world … Continue reading →

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Slavery to Fashion

Posted on March 3, 2012 by marklangley

I don’t have any strong objection to men dressing according to the fashions of the 12th or 13th century if they happen to live in the 12th or 13th century. I assume the gentleman in the picture thought that he … Continue reading →

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The Three Catharses

Posted on February 16, 2012 by marklangley

Our current endeavor is to discuss how it is that liberal education frees a person from slavery, and even more specifically how it frees a person from the slavery to passion. In chapter 6 of the Poetics, Aristotle gives us … Continue reading →

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Give me that man that is not passion’s slave…

Posted on February 5, 2012 by marklangley

“Give me that man  that is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him  In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart, As I do thee.” Thus Hamlet, speaking to Horatio (Act III Scene 2), extols the man who … Continue reading →

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A division of the four kinds of slavery from which Liberal education frees us.

Posted on February 2, 2012 by marklangley

I have already made the claim that a liberal education is an education that frees a person from something and it also frees a person for something. At present we are only speaking about what it frees a person from. … Continue reading →

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