Classical Liberal Arts Archives

The Study of Liberal Arts Cultivates Humility

C.S. Lewis said, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” But sometimes it seems like college is set up as a selfish enterprise.

Theatre and the Liberal Arts

At Hillsdale, we believe that theatre artists are more than just actors, dancers, and technicians.

Art History & the Core

Sharing the best of the past with my students enables them to more deeply understand what it means to be human and it helps them to create their own future.

Philosophy, the University, and Hillsdale College

What is philosophy, and what role does it play in a college or university education?

The Study of Physics within the Liberal Arts

Physics is an integral part of a liberal arts education, which means that all students, not just physics majors, should have an introduction to the field of physics.

Made Ready to Rise to the Stars

I am nothing more than an amateur astronomy enthusiast. I have never studied physics, aside from Science 101, and I could not explain the mechanics behind most of the things in the sky that I find so breathtaking. My eleventh-hour entry into the world of science, however, has made me realize that it was a long process that got me to this place.

What College is Meant to Be

This is what college is meant to be. This is Hillsdale.

The Freshman Pledge

We pledge ourselves to the pursuit of truth, the love of the good, and the cultivation of beauty, for the sake of our minds and hearts and for an ennobled society.

The Good, the True, and the Beautiful

How do we measure “good”? Is it defined by the majority? Is it measured by self-satisfaction or personal fulfillment? The good of any thing is found in its ability […]

The Danger of the Liberal Arts

“There is some danger in the liberal arts,” Dr. Fennell told us in that first lecture. “If you wanted to stay where you’re at, you should have become a dental hygienist.” I didn’t tell him that in my childhood, entering the world of cavities and dental chasms had been my modest aspiration. But something other than my idea of common sense propelled me into the astonishing world of Dr. Fennell’s classroom, and into an uncommon store of wisdom.

Why I Chose Hillsdale: Friendships and Contracts

At my Freshman Convocation, Dr. Arnn spoke of college not only as an institution of learning to foster wisdom and encourage virtue, but also as a contract. He explained that the word collegium, the Latin root word for “college,” was occasionally used in Roman culture similarly to the way we use the word “contract,” highlighting the nature of the relationship between student and teacher.

View of the Freshman Convocation attendees, outside.

What is the Freshman Pledge?

As an incoming student to Hillsdale College, the freshman pledge was a commitment to principles I already understood to be a crucial part of a liberal arts education. Hillsdale freshmen come to college with educational and moral standards already set in their lives. The freshman pledge does not contain concepts that are foreign to incoming students, and it is not for the sake of keeping students in line; it serves a greater purpose.