How to Cultivate Liberal Arts

Cultivating a liberal arts education is not a one-time accomplishment, but a lifelong journey of intellectual and personal growth.

There are different ways for people to pursue the liberal arts, but more important than the means is the mindset of not assuming things are “not relevant” or “uninteresting” to you. When you naturally question the background, history, and origins of any knowledge or experience, and when you are able to relate these to other knowledge and experiences within yourselves, you have begun to enter a spiral of deepening our culture.

1. Direct Experiences


Travel Experience as an example of direct experience


The strength of direct experience lies in the ability to make decisions based on what one sees with one's own eyes, hears with one's own ears, and feels with one's own skin, without being influenced by the evaluations and sensitivities of others. It is an act of confronting the world through one's own senses, rather than “selling” knowledge and information. Also, direct experiecne is easy to remember.For example, it is a very noble yet simple liberal arts education to actually watch a movie and try to infer the message or theme of the movie for yourself, rather than what people think of it.
Another example is traveling to a new place and engaging directly with the people and their daily lives. Through firsthand communication and experience, you not only come to understand cultural differences and similarities, but also gain a deeper appreciation of the culture itself—something far more meaningful than simply hearing about someone else’s travel experiences.
In this way, your direct experiences form the foundation of personal knowledge. And once that foundation is in place, listening to others’ experiences can lead to new insights, richer conversations, and deeper understanding.

2. Indirect Experiences


Reading a book as an example of indirect experiences


The strength of indirect experience is its accessibility. With advances in technology, we now have instant access to a vast range of information through the internet. For example, by watching videos uploaded to platforms like YouTube, we can virtually experience what it’s like to live on the International Space Station—something that would otherwise be impossible for most of us.
Another example is books. Books are the result of months—sometimes years—of research, writing, editing, and refinement. And yet, we have access to them for just a small cost, or even for free through public libraries. In the context of liberal arts learning, gaining knowledge from diverse sources is essential, and reading remains one of the most accessible and powerful ways to do so.

3. Conclusion

So far, we've discussed the importance of both direct and indirect experiences. Rather than relying too heavily on one or the other, it's essential to use both in a balanced and interconnected way.
For example, you might begin by reading a book about beer to gain foundational knowledge. To apply and deepen that understanding, you go to a bar and try different kinds of beer yourself. While enjoying your drink, you become curious about hazy IPAs and look up videos on YouTube to learn more. Then, with that new curiosity, you decide to visit a brewery and see firsthand how these beers are made.
By moving back and forth between indirect learning and real-life experience, you not only build a richer understanding, but you also enrich your everyday life. This dynamic exchange forms a kind of ‘liberal arts spiral’—a continuous, evolving process of learning, reflecting, and living.