ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that it is important for citizens to understand the problems society faces. If they have a basic understanding of the issues, they will be able to make more meaningful contributions to democratic conversations and will find it easier to assess the contributions of others. Including general education courses in the curriculum can help students acquire knowledge about these matters. While different programmes have different requirements, and general education programmes can serve a variety of educational purposes, many aim to inform students about contemporary issues and stimulate them to take an interest in current affairs. This chapter will also consider whether a so-called great books approach to general education is superior in cultivating this virtue to an approach based on the study of social problems that is prevalent in European liberal arts and sciences programmes.
