Humanity now stands at a major crossroads in history. The political, economic, and social systems, which originated in civil revolutions in the West and have developed upon the basis of human rights, are generating challenges worldwide amid widening inequality and the collapse of communities under globalization. The international cooperative framework born after two world wars is also creaking significantly amid the rise of populism and nationalism-first approaches, and intensifying hegemonic competition among major powers. Economic growth driven by the Global South is narrowing the North-South gap while simultaneously accelerating the scramble for limited resources through worldwide economic expansion and placing significant burdens on the global environment. Furthermore, the rapid advancement of scientific and technological innovation, led by generative AI, quantum computing, and life sciences, is bringing unprecedented benefits while rapidly transforming our lifeworld and presenting major challenges to the very nature of humanity itself.

At such a major turning point, Shizenkan believes that liberal arts are an essential foundation for leaders who envision and seek to realize the future. In an era of uncertainty and confusion, when envisioning the future, the how-to knowledge and frameworks that business schools have accumulated do not provide us with sufficient guidance. We need to deeply understand the fundamental principles and structures of the world (political, economic, and social systems) that humans have created, recognize the drivers of change that move the world, gain insight into their impact, and determine how to confront both light and shadow. How have the religions, philosophies, and cultures that humanity has cultivated been nurtured throughout history, how have they defined the world’s diversity, and how will they shape the future ahead? What is humanity in the first place? What distinguishes us from animals or algorithms? What is the future that such humans desire? What is necessary to confront this series of fundamental and essential questions is none other than liberal arts.

Based on this awareness, the Liberal Arts Center pursues knowledge toward the future 10 and 20 years ahead together with researchers and thinkers from various fields including philosophy, anthropology, biology, neuroscience, sociology, history, literature, comparative cultural studies, and astrophysics, while simultaneously creating spaces for dialogue with current business leaders and those who aspire to be next-generation business leaders, disseminating the knowledge generated to society and conducting advocacy activities.