The Liberal Arts and "The Liberal Arts and Almost Anything Else"

By Nick

The following may in fact seem pretentious. If it helps you conceptualize the whole grand scheme of things, feel free to envision me gleefully puffing on a pipe while wearing a tweed sports coat.

Steph, Zach, Addy, and I[1] had and continue to have the desire to have a platform for our thoughts.

Does that mean we think our thoughts are interesting? Certainly. Does that mean you think our thoughts are interesting? That’s entirely your choice[2], though I’d hope we can stimulate and entertain.

Does that mean we think are thoughts are important? To the extent we think they’re worth talking about. Does that mean they’re actually important? Not at all, though I’d much appreciate it if everything I thought about was objectively important. 7 billion people would be playing Magic the Gathering, if that were the case.

Does that mean we think that our thoughts are infallible gifts from our minds to the masses, seeds of revolution and dissent, ground-breaking (in both the metaphorical and literal construction site) sense? I don’t think so. Though, I just realized Zach, Addy, and Steph kind of just let met me decide what this introductory post is about, and they may not agree with me.

And then we ask, “What does it mean considering all of the above?” We’re trying to articulate ideas we have. Whether or not others consume them, the act of writing is valuable to us. Sure, I’d love it if you read my forthcoming “A Dissertation on Love, IKEA™, Newtonian Mechanics, and Non-Euclidean Geometry.” I’d certainly enjoy your thoughts on my thoughts[3]. But that’s not the fundamental motivation behind our blogging. There’s simply a lot to be said for looking and thinking and analysing anything at all with effort and that’s where I hope we go. We’re taking the blogging as a means to develop our ideas, to facilitate critical thinking, and to live that liberal arts[4] ideal of an active, engaged public citizen[5].

The attentive reader (and myself, as I formulate this very thought), may quite rightfully respond with, “But Nick, why are you presenting these thoughts to the world wide web in such a medium. It seems blogging is an inherently social enterprise. I am beginning to perceive a contradiction in your view of writing as a clarification of thought valuable in itself and your rejection of the public facets of blogging. I am calling some shenanigans on your thoughts."

To which I would be gladly respond, “Well put attentive reader and/or myself[6]. I have affirmed the value of writing as a means of clarification and development of thought.  If that were my sole purpose, blogging would be unnecessary. I would like to point out[7] that I did not reject the public aspects of blogging as valueless. If any individual were to read our posts or comment on them in a productive manner, I would be greatly appreciative. The blogging experience came be viewed as value added. I am happy with writing as a clarification of thought; I am happier if others find it interesting and engage in discussion prompted by it.”

Though I may not be wearing that tweed sports coat,[8] may not be puffing that pipe, and  may not be ready to discuss the love-IKEA-velocity interactions yet, I certainly want everything the true liberal arts education entails, and I have a feeling this is a path to get there.

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[1]  If it comes to needing last names, we've reached a much broader audience than anticipated. I will fully admit the inadequacy of this post if that state of affairs occurs.
 

[2] Editor’s Note: Upon further review, Nick, Zach, Addy, and - though she hasn't said it, we’re going to assume - Steph disagree with this assertion. No one can make themselves through force of will, find something interesting. Let’s hope this blog doesn't get to the point where you are trying.

[3] And would, in return offer you my thoughts on your thoughts on my thoughts. And so on until one of us perishes or loses interest.

4 This is the specific moment I realized it may sound pretentious.
 

5 And then this moment didn't make the pretension dip any lower.
 

[6] This a joke I think funny enough to both put in this post and then explain in a footnote. I find the idea of a person ascribing some subjective to themselves value as I did above with my complimenting myself on such excellent prose very funny (e.g. “Look guys, look how cool I am! I’m so cool! Come hang out with me. All the ladies want to be with me” (I wanted to add a footnote to this footnote as follows: This seems a firm rejection of the values of Jersey Shore).

[7] however

[8] Or pants for that matter