tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post5353173209427527701..comments2024-03-23T04:01:39.348-04:00Comments on Understanding Society: Class in AmericaDan Littlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15953897221283103880noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-5626444792514146272009-01-02T11:35:00.000-05:002009-01-02T11:35:00.000-05:00RA-- thanks for the comments. I think the question...RA-- thanks for the comments. I think the question of how a liberal education fits into our contemporary society is a pretty interesting one. Why study literature or philosophy? Is it to learn real concrete skills of imagination, interpretation, and argument? Or is it to distinguish oneself from the other students in technical schools who are on track to enter other parts of the class status hierarchy? I'd say it's the former -- but there certainly is a class marker that accompanies a liberal arts degree. There are a couple of postings elsewhere here and in ChangingSociety on education you may find interesting.Dan Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15953897221283103880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-91085054001500173772008-12-30T10:38:00.000-05:002008-12-30T10:38:00.000-05:00I was thinking about questions of the real and the...I was thinking about questions of the real and the instrumental in this realm too. I teach literature and think about the question of why I teach what I teach and how my class influences my decision. If I teach "the classics" it is not only that they are a source of universal wisdom (a la Allan Bloom) but that they have an instrumental value in understanding later works of art. The Bible and Shakespeare and Plato are foundational -- later works refer to them. Thus if your education in this regard is scanty, you will never really belong to the class of educated people who share a certain "common culture" as you put it.<BR/><BR/>Funny that Classic and class share the same root.HRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09198683269159988226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-87238007746361943842008-12-30T00:14:00.000-05:002008-12-30T00:14:00.000-05:00I am glad to have found your blog (via http://econ...I am glad to have found your blog (via http://economistsview.typepad.com/). Class is still sadly underdiscussed in the blogosphere (for the readily apparent reasons). I am about to go look at your schematic below.HRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09198683269159988226noreply@blogger.com