The intellect
Found this quote in the Introsems brochure today:
"I must study politics and war that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy… in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, and music."
   —John Adams (1735-1826)
It seems that we as a society are primarily still in the first two stages. Is it, then, frivolous to be studying "painting, poetry, and music" at this point? Another question: is it unfair to deem politics and war, and mathematics and philosophy, merely utilitarian stepping stones to some higher state?