Ep. 119 - Liberal Arts, What Are They Good For? with Steven Cortright

In this deep and reflective episode of The Magnus Podcast, host Joshua Mazarin and guest Steve Cortright, co-founder of Albertus Magnus Institute, explore the true meaning and enduring value of the liberal arts. They trace the term 'liberal' back to its ancient roots in Cicero and Greek enkupios paidaia, revealing that liberal arts are not about political liberalism but about freeing the mind to become a capable, virtuous citizen of both the earthly and spiritual common good. The episode unpacks the traditional structure of the liberal arts—grammar, logic, rhetoric (the trivium) and arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the quadrivium)—as disciplines that cultivate intellectual discipline, rational thought, and the ability to navigate life's complexities with clarity and purpose. Cortright contrasts this with modern education's utilitarian turn, where schools label themselves 'liberal arts' while prioritizing job-specific training, leading to career rigidity and alienation. He argues that the genuine liberal arts foster personhood, enabling individuals to think critically, communicate effectively, and adapt across diverse vocations. Drawing on thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas, Joseph Pieper, and St. John Henry Newman, the conversation emphasizes that true education is not about securing a job but about forming the whole person—spiritually, intellectually, and morally—so they can live with wisdom, virtue, and joy in any calling. The episode closes with a powerful affirmation of Catholic liberal education as a path to adventure, not career, and a lifelong journey of learning and service.