The Value of Higher Education: What Does “Higher” Really Mean?

Why do we want a “higher” education for ourselves or our children? And why should taxpayers or donors support a system of higher education? Two important meanings of “height” come into play in facing these questions. The first centers on the development of mental and spiritual capacities and the hope that individuals might fulfill their “highest” human potential. The second centers on material well-being and relates to higher education as a path to a socioeconomically improved position.

Historically, “higher” education is associated with certain economic and political advantages, but the two pursuits of height have never been perfectly in sync. Since World War II, expanded access has been justified by the belief that liberal education fosters both personal growth and economic opportunity.

However, recent concerns about return on investment—especially regarding income and access to cultural resources—raise doubts about this connection. This presentation explores the answer to this question through the a lens of philosophy and the historical evolution of how America has valued higher education.

Speakers Expertise:

Steve Smith is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Millsaps College and the author of The Meaning of Height in Aspiration, Responsibility, and Higher Education (Palgrave Macmillan 2024) as well as numerous books and articles in aesthetics, moral theory, and philosophy of religion. He is a former director of the Heritage program in the Millsaps core curriculum and the Film Studies program.