Why is liberal arts important?

The characteristics of the Japanese educational system

In Japan, students are divided into humanities and sciences in high school. Humanities students focus on subjects such as language and social sciences, while science students focus on subjects such as mathematics and natural sciences. At university, they specialize even more, choosing between faculties of literature, law, economics and others, and faculties of science, engineering, medicine and others. This is because Japanese society has developed to a high level, and specialized knowledge and skills are required.

The importance of liberal arts

However, when they leave school and enter society, the distinction between humanities and sciences does not matter much. Every profession requires diversified knowledge. For example, for science students, it is useful to have an interest in art and culture, and to cultivate their sensitivity and imagination, because it helps to develop creative ideas and problem-solving skills. Moreover, studying disciplines such as literature and history helps to understand and empathize with the human heart and social changes. Conversely, for humanities students, it is useful to study disciplines such as physics and biology, because they can experience awe and wonder for the laws of nature and the mechanism of life. Moreover, studying disciplines such as mathematics and logic helps to organize their thinking and judge logically.

Liberal arts is the education that covers a wide range of disciplines, such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. Liberal arts aims to develop the intellectual and moral capacities of the students, not just to prepare them for a specific profession. Acquiring liberal arts means broadening one's vision. Having a broad vision means being able to deal flexibly with different people and things, without prejudice or preconception. This is a skill necessary to live in today's society. To acquire liberal arts, it is not enough to learn at school, but one must also read books, watch movies, visit museums and art galleries. By following one's interest and curiosity, one can feel the pleasure and satisfaction of learning.

Examples of professions that require liberal arts

l   Teacher: not only do they need to have a good knowledge of the subject they teach, but also be able to respond to the interests and questions of the students, with a wide knowledge. Moreover, the knowledge of philosophy and psychology is useful to understand the purpose and method of education.

l   Doctor: not only do they need to diagnose and treat diseases, but also communicate with patients and families, with the knowledge of anthropology and ethics. Moreover, the knowledge of sociology and politics is useful to understand the situation and challenges of health care.

l   Journalist: depending on the topic and the goal of their investigations and reports, they need the knowledge of politics, economics, culture and art. Moreover, the knowledge of statistics and logic is useful to collect and analyze information.

l   Designer: depending on the object and the purpose of their design, they need the knowledge of art, craft, architecture and fashion. Moreover, the knowledge of history and sociology of design is useful to understand the meaning and social impact of their work.

よく考えてみたら今どのブラウザも自動翻訳があるから日本語のままでもよいかもしれないと思った