Is being educated in all subjects necessary in every profession?
"You have to learn, young man. Philosophy. Theology. Literature. Poetry. Drama. History. Archeology. Anthropology. Mythology. Music. These are your tools as much as brush and pigment. You cannot be an artist until you are civilized. You cannot be civilized until you learn. To be civilized is to know where you belong in the continuum of your art and your world. To surmount the past, you must know the past." This particular statement by Mark Rothko to a budding artist from the play “Red” by John Logan notes that to be civilized, one must understand a variety of disciplines before he can classify himself as a civilized person. Many may disagree with this particular position by this 20th century American artist as most would say that it’s practically pointless to take subjects which are not needed in the selected fields people would select for their future. But for some, this statement is quite true in some sense. Having background knowledge in all subjects despite the fact these subjects are just minor for a person’s profession not just makes a person civilized but it enables a person to become a more educated and sophisticated person no matter what profession they have chosen for themselves.
At present, colleges and universities try to include basic subjects in their course curriculum no matter which profession their students have selected. Many questions revolve on where they would use the knowledge they would get from these Liberal Arts, Math and Science courses in their respective fields and why would they even bother doing so. In terms of learning math, not only does it help in understanding basic problems such as counting money, telling time, cooking and sharing; it also helps in determining the possibilities regarding a particular event. Learning basic algebra would become a person’s way to be organized when it comes to problem solving and come up with various solutions regarding a problem that many factors may influence. One example to how useful learning algebra and math is by determining how much money is needed to be budgeted for a particular expenses payable for couple of months. A person, through the use of algebra, can come up with a formula that would properly estimate how much money they need to save to pay up their expenses for each month without losing money in the process.
The quote “Science is everywhere” denotes at first that science is found in every aspect of life which is very important when it comes to continuously learning the subject even if it is not required in the chosen field. Science is a part of one’s life almost in every way as technology enables one’s life to be easier and it cannot be created without sciences. Science is also useful when it comes to understanding cultures and languages as science contributes in unveiling the mysteries behind these important aspects of life. It is also important in learning because it applies all subjects in each field, whether in the liberal arts or in the modern arts. No matter what subject is required in each field, there is a hint of science in them. An example to this particular claim that science is found in all subjects is in the subjects’ history, geography and even in math. For history, science enables students to understand how time periods vary from one another and the innovations used in those eras. Science also helps in developing one’s personal skills which is needed in daily life. Through reading, writing, speaking and learning, not only would the person understand the important aspects of life thought he help of science but it would also enable them to fully exercise each skills to the fullest.
Lastly, learning minor subjects such as liberal arts subjects would be very beneficial in learning how to properly think, to properly learn, to properly see the world as a whole and how to properly exercise and understand the faith. College is the time where one concentrates to his or her chosen profession but it also the time to continuously hone the mind and body and prepare it once they enter the big world. Learning the liberal arts would exercise the mind to allow it to make the proper decisions needed when it comes to important issues and problems. The liberal arts subjects would also help a person in properly digesting new information and knowledge, plus properly seeing the world without any particular position and bias.
Learning these basic courses may seem to be pointless at first but considering how life is currently changing and how important it is to keep up, these basic courses would enable everyone to keep up with the change happening around them. Not only does it hone the mind, it would also enable people to keep an open outlook and perspective regarding society, issues and even in problems. Going back to the previous statement by Rothko, being civilized through learning each field is true. But if one looks at it closely, learning everything would make one practical, reasonable and sensible. These key skills are very important today as it would allow them to survive in the cruel and every changing world.
Works Cited
Harris, Robert. On the Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education. Virtual Salt, 14 March. 1991. Web. 17 September. 2011
Let's Talk Science. Why is science literacy so important? Let's Talk Science Official Website, 2010. Web. 17 September. 2011
Warren, Lisa. Why Math is Important in our Lives - Things to Explain to Kids Who Asks. HubPages- Elementary, Middle School and High School Category, June. 2008. Web. 17 September. 2011
