If you think this age of society lacks nuance and emphasis in liberal arts education, why don't you get one of those supposedly dime a dozen scientists to build you a time machine to travel back to 1900? Then report back and tell us if you still think this is an age filled with single minded, overly ambitious, people who think their own ideas reign supreme.

In answer to your question, no. There is no decreasing emphasis on liberal arts education, simply an increased emphasis on the education of maths and sciences, especially in America. This may create the illusion that no one cares about the arts and humanities, but that's frankly, just sort of ridiculous. Look at any of the top ten bachelors degree lists online, and you'll see English, History, and the Liberal Arts well represented. I'd show you one of them myself, but it's hard to determine which are legitimate and which aren't. But just take a peek through google.

As for the lack of nuance in society, well, that can't exactly be measured. It's something you perceive. And funnily enough, I think society is only more nuanced today than it was in nearly any age previous, all thanks to the internet, something created solely from science and math. You know how books used to only be available to the rich and wealthy before the book press was invented? Well, the internet is like that - now discussion and ideas that might have only been seen by the highly educated (and likely, the rich, since it's often hard to be one without the other) are available to anyone with an internet connection.

You're looking back in history with these rose tinted glasses. Blacks and women didn't have some of the most basic rights til only a short time ago. The poor couldn't afford for children to even finish a high school education - they had to get jobs to support their families. When on earth would those people have had time to read about literature or learn about art, much less be able to afford books on the topic?

Nowadays, yes, we still have problems. Religious zealots still exist, but you're kidding yourself if you think they were more tolerant fifty or even two hundred years ago. People will always have problems seeing things from another point of view, that's just the nature of human beings.

If it will bring you piece of mind, look at the high school requirements of the schools nearest to you. Odds are, they require students to study English and History for 4 years, while only requiring 3 of maths and sciences. Look up forums on the internet where people discuss things. Which subsection will have the most posting and views - one on music, or one on science? Unless you're on a forum about technology, it'll be the music subsection.

So, take off your rose colored glasses and wipe away your sense of entitlement. The liberal arts are alive and well, being shared and discussed by possibly more people than ever in history. Don't silently judge strangers and assume they're narrow minded bigots who couldn't possibly understand your views on philosophy - strike up a discussion with them instead. I think if you're willing to do some of that point of view changing you were going on about people not understanding, you'll be in for a very pleasant surprise.