Rawls, Neustadt, & Liberal Education

Overview & Synopsis

Within the span of a year, higher education?and indeed liberal education?lost two of its most prominent practitioners. John Rawls and Richard Neustadt, two scholars whose work provoked new engagement in areas of public policy, political philosophy, political leadership, and the study of government, died between November 2002 and November 2003. Their passing led the author to reflect on the ways in which these two exceptional men both advanced and modeled the notion of liberal education. The author discusses the influence these scholars had on his world view and professional conduct?an influence that is neither unique to him nor limited to the discipline of political science.