Approach #1:
By focusing on Ungars common misperceptions of the liberal arts paired with Scheuer’s ideas about liberal arts value compared to STEM disciplines, I will argue that the value of the liberal arts depends on the individual circumstantially. In “7 Misperceptions About the Liberal Arts,” Ungar brings attention to several views on the liberal arts that he sees to be invalid. He argues that the affordability of a degree should not affect the lower-income individuals from seeking a higher education. In other words, they should not allow themselves to be pushed in the STEM direction to practicality. According to Ungar, it is condescending to believe “that the rich folks will do the important thinking, and the lower classes will simply carry out their ideas” (pg. 3). However, I believe that this quote in and of itself is condescending. Fortunately, I have never heard of anyone believing that the higher classes will do the important thinking. There will always be a need for those who are willing to work. Without the working class, society would fall apart. So, is it fair to assume that this is an assumption that people commonly make? I don’t think so. Scheuer argues throughout his essay that “the liberal arts embody precisely the skills a democracy must cultivate to maintain its vital reservoir of active, thoughtful, human, and productive citizens” (pg. 6). This idea of citizenship connects directly to Ungars focus on lower classes pursuing a liberal arts education. What truly makes a productive citizen – and what if certain individuals don’t want to pursue a liberal arts degree. Does this in fact make them less productive citizens? I say no. Ungar, although delivering his ideas questionably, is right. It should not be assumed that lower-income families cannot do the important thinking. However, it is in-fact practical for them to pursue a STEM education if they want to make money. Additionally, if these lower-income families do not pursue this liberal arts education, they are not less productive citizens, as Scheuer seems to imply. Thus, the pursuit of a liberal arts degree and the value of this degree depends on which lives the degree lies in.
