@article{ART003302438},
author={Jong Hwan Lee and Kwangsu Mok and Minjung Bae},
title={A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion},
journal={The Journal of General Education},
issn={2465-7581},
year={2026},
number={34},
pages={37-79},
doi={10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2}
TY - JOUR
AU - Jong Hwan Lee
AU - Kwangsu Mok
AU - Minjung Bae
TI - A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion
JO - The Journal of General Education
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 34
PB - Da Vinci Mirae Institute of General Education
SP - 37
EP - 79
SN - 2465-7581
AB - The purpose of this study is to explore how required liberal arts courses should be restructured to equip students with the competencies demanded by modern society, using ‘Critical Thinking and Discussion with Classics’ course at University of Seoul as a case study. Required liberal arts courses have evolved in response to shifts in the paradigm regarding the competencies students should acquire through higher education. Courses centered on literary appreciation transformed into communication courses, while courses involving the reading of classics were introduced to enhance critical thinking skills. While some courses combined classical reading with discussion, these had limitations in fostering critical thinking. To enhance critical thinking, students need to learn and practice critical thinking itself—the ability to judge which opinions are more correct and closer to truth. Therefore, in the age of artificial intelligence, required liberal arts courses should be developed and operated in a direction that integrates classical reading, critical thinking, and discussion.
Based on this theoretical foundation, starting in 2023, the University of Seoul has offered a required liberal arts course titled ‘Critical Thinking and Discussion with Classics’. To ensure systematic and consistent teaching across numerous sections and instructors, collaborative efforts included a co-authoring textbook and a standardized syllabus. The course utilized classics to teach students critical thinking skills, enabling them to apply these concepts and engage in discussions grounded in classical texts. In survey results from 2023 and 2024, students demonstrated the course's positive impact. Students reported experiencing truth-seeking through discussion, enhanced critical thinking, and that the experience of reading classics and engaging in discussion helped deepen and develop their own thoughts. These results demonstrate that, in the age of artificial intelligence, a course combining classical reading, critical thinking, and discussion effectively fulfills its role as a required liberal arts course.
KW - Liberal arts education;critical thinking;discussion;reading classics;;humanities
DO - 10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
ER -
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok and Minjung Bae. (2026). A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion. The Journal of General Education, 34, 37-79.
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok and Minjung Bae. 2026, "A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion", The Journal of General Education, no.34, pp.37-79. Available from: doi:10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok, Minjung Bae "A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion" The Journal of General Education 34 pp.37-79 (2026) : 37.
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok, Minjung Bae. A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion. 2026; 34 : 37-79. Available from: doi:10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok and Minjung Bae. "A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion" The Journal of General Education no.34(2026) : 37-79.doi: 10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee; Kwangsu Mok; Minjung Bae. A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion. The Journal of General Education, 34, 37-79. doi: 10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee; Kwangsu Mok; Minjung Bae. A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion. The Journal of General Education. 2026; 34 37-79. doi: 10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok, Minjung Bae. A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion. 2026; 34 : 37-79. Available from: doi:10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
Jong Hwan Lee, Kwangsu Mok and Minjung Bae. "A Direction of Required Liberal Arts Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence : Integrating reading classics, critical thinking, and discussion" The Journal of General Education no.34(2026) : 37-79.doi: 10.24173/jge.2026.01.31.2
