The delayed major idea can work. My son went to Parsons School of Design where they are not allowed to choose their concentration until the second year. All students have to take the same first year courses that introduce the different tracks and focus on different aspects of the creative world. Art school is obviously not the same as a traditional university, but aren't they supposed to be thought leaders and innovators? PS. Would love to know what your son ends up doing.
That's great to hear! Now to persuade my colleagues. You'd be surprised how lazy thought leaders are when it comes to creative, collective problem solving.
As for what my son ends up doing, I'm looking forward to finding that out too. :) If I'm still writing on Substack in 4-8 years, I'm sure I'll mention it at some point!
"What if the major were the thing you had to “get out of the way” and the liberal arts were really the focus of your education?" I LOVE THIS QUESTION. As an academic in English, I get really tired of trying to explain to students the transferability and importance of writing skills. Especially now, in the age of generative AI, many of them believe with their whole heart that writing skills will be completely unnecessary in their professional lives. We really need to figure out how to change our systems and reshape that perception.
Erica, I love this. I have been noodling this very question. What would it take to redesign a society that works for more people? To me it is exactly what you are saying — collective will based on collective values. We are lacking will right now and we are mired in dogma masquerading as values for dubious gains. I have been talking lately about this within the housing crisis context in my community. Liberal ideas get lip service, but wealth and developers always win. Will is severely lacking.
An aside, my daughter is taking college course this summer called Movies and the Meaning of Life - co-taught by film and philosophy faculty. I hope they speak to some of what you discuss here.
It also makes me wonder where systems thinking fits in here. Its origins are in business, but is there a version of it that is more large-scale human? That itself requires examination and dismantling of systems. Again, will is key.
The delayed major idea can work. My son went to Parsons School of Design where they are not allowed to choose their concentration until the second year. All students have to take the same first year courses that introduce the different tracks and focus on different aspects of the creative world. Art school is obviously not the same as a traditional university, but aren't they supposed to be thought leaders and innovators? PS. Would love to know what your son ends up doing.
That's great to hear! Now to persuade my colleagues. You'd be surprised how lazy thought leaders are when it comes to creative, collective problem solving.
As for what my son ends up doing, I'm looking forward to finding that out too. :) If I'm still writing on Substack in 4-8 years, I'm sure I'll mention it at some point!
"What if the major were the thing you had to “get out of the way” and the liberal arts were really the focus of your education?" I LOVE THIS QUESTION. As an academic in English, I get really tired of trying to explain to students the transferability and importance of writing skills. Especially now, in the age of generative AI, many of them believe with their whole heart that writing skills will be completely unnecessary in their professional lives. We really need to figure out how to change our systems and reshape that perception.
Erica, I love this. I have been noodling this very question. What would it take to redesign a society that works for more people? To me it is exactly what you are saying — collective will based on collective values. We are lacking will right now and we are mired in dogma masquerading as values for dubious gains. I have been talking lately about this within the housing crisis context in my community. Liberal ideas get lip service, but wealth and developers always win. Will is severely lacking.
An aside, my daughter is taking college course this summer called Movies and the Meaning of Life - co-taught by film and philosophy faculty. I hope they speak to some of what you discuss here.
I figured I wasn't the only one thinking along these lines--I'm glad it's resonating with you!
Also, I love philosophy and film. Super cool! I'd love to hear what they talk about.
It also makes me wonder where systems thinking fits in here. Its origins are in business, but is there a version of it that is more large-scale human? That itself requires examination and dismantling of systems. Again, will is key.
This was fantastic! There's a great book--Thinking in Systems--that might be of interest to him--or you.
Ooh! I'll check it out.