Liberal Education for Robust Self-Respect

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eleven
  In Roundtable Session: Education of the Whole Person and Flourishing (Table 12)

Abstract

I provide a moral justification for liberal education despite substantial costs imposed by it. My account is based on the value of self-respect as indispensably instrumental to living a flourishing life. I argue that certain courses of study and pedagogical practices, that can be included as part of a liberal education even if not widely implemented, are unusually well-suited to provide social bases of self-respect, especially to those whose self-respect tend to be threatened by various forms of injustices. In addition, I discuss how a liberal education, including its controversial civic component, should be designed according to my account which deems promoting self-respect as one of the most important aims of education. I also discuss pedagogical implications of my account.

Author

• Shiying Li, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Presenting Author