A Comparative Study of the Liberal Arts Tradition and Confucian Tradition in Education

In contrast to the continued decline and bleak future of liberal arts education and liberal arts colleges in Europe and America, there has been a revival of the liberal arts model in Asian countries in recent years. This paper compares the liberal arts tradition of education in the West and Confucian tradition of education in the East, in the aspects of educational goal, curriculum, and pedagogy, as well as the way both traditions are institutionalized. It makes connections between these humanistic approaches to demonstrate the common ground for the education of mankind: human beings need to develop meaning for life and to be able to relate to others in order to have a fulfilling life, and highlights the importance of such humanistic approaches as liberal arts education and the Confucian tradition in an increasingly utilitarian and vocation-oriented world.