Five Renaissance humanists associated with the court of Henry VIII (Erasmus, More, Vives, Pace, and Elyot) developed a rationale for the liberal arts that has important implications for the 1980s. The view can help define an educated person and show the importance of the teaching of moral values. (Author/MSE)

In a long-standing debate, those who argue that "useful" studies are liberal have often appealed to Franklin, while those who oppose this have usually appealed to Aristotle. Both of these historical appeals are flawed, however, a fact revealing deeper misunderstanding in the contemporary debate. (Author/MSE)