ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the importance of self-understanding to the democratic process. Citizens must have an understanding to provide meaningful input into democratic conversations. These conversations seek to consider the interests of all, which can only be achieved if participants can articulate their own perspectives and values. A sense of self can be fostered by giving students the freedom to shape their educational trajectories. By requiring students to make their own choices about their education – for example, by allowing them to select their own topics for papers or by giving them the freedom to design their curricula – liberal arts and sciences programmes encourage students to develop a personal narrative, and this forces them to answer questions about their positions in current debates, the issues they are interested in, and their personal strengths and weaknesses.
