Etienne Gilson's The Ethics Of Higher Education

Etienne Gilson has written an article about the definition of the term scholarship and what it means to truly utilise the knowledge learnt in universities and colleges. According to Gilson, “scholarship does not consist primarily in the quantity of knowledge a man possesses, but in the way he possesses it.” In other words, although a scholar is an individual who bares intelligence, he must use his education and skills to apply it to his life and profession effectively. Based on my insights and personal experiences, I agree with this essay for the following reasons. University teaches students to think critically, widen their understanding of their world and research to prove their point. To begin with, higher education promotes critical thinking. As stated by Gilson, “A place where men would meet daily for a certain number of months every year with a view merely to absorbing knowledge would neither be a real university nor a place for higher teaching”. This means that students studying in such institutions are not there to blindly listen to professors and take down information in the same fashion as in kindergarten, elementary or even in high school. In short, a true college student thinks for themselves. For example, in our high school and elementary years, we

A true scholar analyses information, learns from different perspectives and uses them to create a statement and theory that can revolutionise what was previously perceived as fact. With that in mind, it has taught me to appreciate the Liberal Arts and Sciences further. Many of these subjects may be difficult and their purpose may be questionable at first. But in the end, they will mould and develop my skills, talents and intellect. To quote the passage once again, “All that heavy and pedantic display of erudition that displeases us in many books receives its own