[Lucky Dog]

In by-gone years, a liberal arts education consisted of studying the trifecta: logic, grammar, and rhetoric (math was correctly considered a part of logic). To master these topics, one studies the works of the giants of philosophy who, quite literally, created and developed these topics.

Logic required one critically examine the premises of an argument with the strength of their connections to any posed conclusion... by its very nature the core of "critical thought."

Grammar was taught as not just the "rules" of constructing sentences, but as proper way of expressing concepts and thoughts. Without a command of language, the manipulation of abstract symbols (words) to arrive at correct conclusions is difficult, if not impossible.

Rhetoric was studied, both, as way creating emotionally (if, perhaps not logically) convincing arguments and the examination of and avoidance of being trapped into unduly accepting emotionally convincing arguments.

These are the topics and skills that still be at the core of education, not "indoctrination."

[ikka]

Trifecta? Or trivium?

[Romulus]

In by-gone years, a liberal arts education consisted of studying the trifecta

Well, it's a sort of education.