The Study of Literary Education as a Liberal Arts

This study aims to explore the significance and direction of literature education as a liberal arts subject within the current university education environment, where pragmatist discourse is on the rise and the crisis of the humanities is deepening. By focusing on the three core elements—‘liberal arts,’ ‘literature (classics),’ and ‘reading’—the study defines the purpose of literature education in the liberal arts as fostering reflection on humanity and society through literary texts. Using the case of the literature section of the compulsory liberal arts course Reading Great Books at D University, the study examines the instructional methods and educational efficacy of the course. The class was structured to expand from literary interpretation to critical and creative readings of meaning, encouraging students’ autonomous thinking and expression through group discussions and presentations. As a result, students developed the ability to critically reflect on human beings and society within historical and social contexts, grounded in literary reading focused on novel elements. This aligns with the essential values of liberal arts education today, such as fostering creative thinking and nurturing the capacity for independent problem-solving.