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Oct. 12, 2015
Since the dawn of man, there has been debate about the value of a liberal arts education and, as a University of Chicago alumnus, I just want to say that the Core Curriculum has proved invaluable to me throughout life after graduation. Thanks to my humanities writing seminars, I am able to form a clear and concise argument featuring a clearly articulated thesis in order to defend my life choices to my parents. The Civ sequence gave me the experience of a lifetime: being able to feel my toes during the months of January-March. Also, because of core biology and the physical sciences sequences, I know that both evolution and climate change are real.
But most importantly, thanks to my three wonderful quarters of sosc, I have a great foundational knowledge of the classics of social and political thought. To demonstrate the Core’s value, I thought that I would provide examples as to how this knowledge has served me in my postgraduate life.
When I submitted my nonfiction book on delta epsilon proofs to a publishing group, they were extremely impressed by my allusions of Plato’s cave metaphor and offered me a book deal.
When a boy at my publishing group asked why I refuse to write fiction, I said that Socrates insists that gods and human beings hate the true lie and would not want to lie, either in speech, or deed by presenting an illusion.
When I developed a crush on the boy, I knew, thanks to Hobbes, that he must be good as the object of anyone’s appetite or desire, that is it which they for their part calleth good; and the object of their aversion, evil.
When the boy I liked said that his parents only want him to date Jewish women, I retorted that he should consider Marx’s idea that religion is an illusion, the opiate of the masses, and a mere symptom of the slavery of mankind.
When my mom asked why I haven’t found a husband yet, I directed her to Marxism and answered that as a species-being I need to focus on my contributions to society rather than my individualistic ego.
When the doctor, to whom my mom made me see, asked ‘what hurts?” I said “everything,” because if one of the Republic’s citizens suffers anything at all, either good or bad. all will share in the joy or the pain in the community of pain and pleasure.
When my doctor asked if I lead an active lifestyle, I said no since, according to Rousseau’s natural history, women have become more sedentary and became accustomed to looking after the hut and the children.
When he commented that I don’t have any children, I replied that in the ideal Republic, all women and children are in common. Also poetry is not allowed and all men should participate in gymnastics.
As seen through the above examples, UChicago’s Core Curriculum has helped me navigate social situations, minimize awkward conversation, and keep my cultivated ‘quirkiness’ alive. I will be forever grateful for this wonderful institution.
