Liberal Arts and Sciences: Thinking Critically, Creatively, and Ethically
by Christopher A. Ulloa Chaves, Ed.D
Trafford Publishing

book review by Carol Anderson, D.Min., ACSW, LMSW

"Without liberal learning, we could not have developed the ability to think critically, creatively, or ethically. Indeed, liberal education models can produce learning, or change, by being one of the key voices which question how the fruits of scientific, religious, and political ideas help, or not, in educating, developing, and sustaining more whole human beings and, by extension, a more just world."

In 186 pages, this book examines the history of philosophy and its influence on the humanities and the current need for critical and ethical thinking. There are seven chapters including: philosophy as a means to human development, the checkered history of liberal education, the humanities as a way to empathy, changing processes for learning and the educated person, initiation of critical thinking, thinking creatively through imagination, and thinking ethically for social justice for all. The scholarly text has 142 footnotes that support the text. The author explores the works of numerous philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Rousseau, Aristotle, and Aquinas, as well as current philosophers. Concepts such as idealism and materialism; pedagogy and andragogy; experiential learning; dialectical learning; and tables of information regarding becoming educated, intellectual standards, and intellectual traits are defined and explored with an eye towards critical thinking.

Liberal Arts and Sciences is a book that will probably appeal to only a small, professional population, but should be read by those persons who wish to seek a higher level of critical, compassionate, and creative thinking, not just those in the institutions of higher learning. It is well-written, insightful, and is a fascinating examination of education regarding the history of philosophy and current liberal thinking—thinking which must inform others to become a more just society. The background of the history of philosophy builds to exploring our current needs. The insights regarding why we need such critical/compassionate/creative thinking also takes us out of our own needs into the needs of the world. He points out studies that relate that reading and learning lead to healthy citizen traits not only by learning facts, but by examining more significant traits such as honesty, creativity, ethical behavior, and wisdom—concepts that are sorely needed in today's global world.

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