In Defense Of A Liberal Education

Examine Zakaria’s argument that massive online open courses are a beneficial and equitable alternative for those who otherwise might not be able to access higher education. What are the strengths and limitations of his argument? What other initiatives might prove useful in expanding access to higher education globally?

How is the partnership between Yale and the National University of Singapore reconceptualizing a liberal education for the modern world? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of this approach?

What are the benefits of an education grounded in a liberal arts core curriculum, compared to a more exclusively STEM-oriented or skills-based approach?

Zakaria argues that there is an important link between democracy and the liberal arts, yet various non-democratic societies throughout history have also highly valued the liberal arts and education, such as Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance and imperial China. What, if anything, makes liberal arts education particularly relevant to a democracy?

In Defense of a Liberal Education is a polemical text, with Zakaria attempting to persuade readers of a certain viewpoint. What are some of the rhetorical techniques that Zakaria uses to make his case? How do such techniques shape his narrative style and/or the nature of his arguments?

Zakaria argues that today’s students are under special socioeconomic pressures that their predecessors did not face to the same degree. What are some of these pressures, according to Zakaria? What other factors may he have underrepresented or overlooked? What are some ways of potentially minimizing these pressures?

In recent years, conservatives have promoted a return to the traditional “great books” curriculum. What are the benefits and drawbacks of such an approach to higher education today?

Zakaria acknowledges that the US and some other Western countries sometimes lag behind on standardized international tests. He argues, however, that this does not necessarily signal lower intelligence in students and may even reflect many advantages. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Zakaria’s argument on this issue? In what ways could Western countries improve their standings in such tests without sacrificing the qualities that Zakaria admires in Western educational systems?