Dr. Stephen Lewarne, a Professor of Economics and Finance at Franciscan University, suggests in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed that artificial intelligence is prompting universities to rethink their educational priorities.
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In his piece titled “Socrates Would Thrive in the Age of AI,” Lewarne emphasizes that while students have unprecedented access to information, the true challenge lies in teaching them to evaluate evidence, identify flawed reasoning, synthesize different viewpoints, and defend their conclusions. He states, “The scarce resource now isn’t information but judgment.”
In his classroom, Lewarne applies this philosophy by allowing students to utilize AI for research and argument development, but he also requires them to demonstrate their comprehension through individual oral exams. He notes, “Socrates didn’t grade essays. He questioned his students until it became clear whether they could explain what they claimed to know.”
For more insights, see Dr. Lewarne’s full op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.