Liberal Arts and Sciences

Abstract

This book will, first, move the reader through philosophy's major conceptions as ideas that initiate and sustain educational and learning processes. The book will then provide an historical account of the key periods, development, and contributions of the liberal arts enterprise mainly within Western civilization, but increasingly so for and from Eastern civilization. Important ancient and contemporary figures including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Hypatia, Thomas Aquinas, Rene Descartes, Francisco Suarez, Immanuel Kant, John Rorty, Martha Nussbaum, and other women and men are explored for their contributions to the initiation and sustaining of philosophy, liberal learning models, and the humanities. The book also includes three chapters on the application dimensions of the liberal arts model of higher learning, mainly its development of critical, creative, and ethical thinking competencies for effective citizenship and problem solving in the world.