humanities essay introduction examples

humanities essay introduction examples

The Importance of Humanities Education

1. Introduction

As for the intrinsic value of humanities study, the claim that it justifies itself, practitioners and proponents of humanities study must admit that the grounds for this claim are not as clear today as they used to be. This is not to say that there are not still many people who insist that learning for learning’s sake is the only real and true reason for studying anything. They also insist, for reasons that are seldom clear, that humanities study is the highest form of learning and must be justified in this way. However, it has become difficult to see how such claims could be maintained in a world where the practical value of various kinds of knowledge is judged by almost everyone who imparts that knowledge to others. Humanities study has not been immune to these judgments; in fact, some of the harshest judgments have been made about its worth in the job market.

Proponents of humanities study at the university level today are apt to make two kinds of claims about its value. On the one hand, they will argue for the “intrinsic” value of it, claiming that it is intrinsically important and therefore justifies itself. On the other hand, they will argue that it has “instrumental” value, serving various purposes. Knowledge of these purposes suggests ways to enhance the value of humanities study and provides clear criteria for assessing that value. The following is an exposition of the second kind of argument, which argues for the instrumental value of humanities study at the university level in terms of its contribution to the health of the nation.

2. The Role of Humanities in Society

The role of humanities in a society is essentially to comprehend the degree to which the past is applicable in the present. Humanities relates to the how and the why of understanding what culture is and how culture influences who we are and what we are as individuals in the world. It is the task of disciplines like history, literature, art, religion, and philosophy to shed light on the multiple facets of our human existence both past and present. It is often stated that we live in a postmodern era, that we no longer have a sense of historical understanding or a connection to the past. Studies in history seek to combat that statement, to prove that to know where we are going, we must know where we have come from. History is essential in understanding the social, political, and cultural trends of previous generations. This understanding composes the stepping stones which can parallel the events of the current day. This is beneficial to society because utilizing these historical parallels can abate previous mistakes and lead to greater accomplishments in the future. An example of this mode of thinking would be the period of Renaissance in the late 15th-16th centuries. This was a time when there was a great concept of humanism, a rebirth if you will of the intellectual force of ancient Greece and Rome. By understanding the motives and accomplishments of this time period, society can imitate the same results by providing a platform for progress in the arts and the sciences.

3. Benefits of Studying Humanities

Another skill cultivated by humanities that is often underplayed is the ability to find and understand the complex interrelationships that exist between seemingly different things. The study of humanities and its interrelations is always changing and is seldom an exact science. This lack of preciseness can be very freeing to some students, but it is very frustrating to others. For those who find it frustrating, the study of humanities teaches one how to still find understanding in something without an exact formula to understand it, an important skill for complex problem solving that is required in many fields.

One of the most important skills that are developed through studying humanities is the ability to communicate your thoughts in writing. Quite simply, the basic prerequisite for any job that involves a higher level of reading and writing is an ability to express ideas and opinions in written form.

There are many more benefits to studying humanities than just being able to write papers, but it is often difficult for the students themselves to recognize. They already possess critical skills, as they have already made their way through the public school system, and it is the rare individual who has not had to write a paper at some point in their life. The student may question whether learning the analysis of poetry is useful, but many poems can reveal a deep insight into the author’s mind, and understanding how to explain those insights can be a very important endeavor.

4. Examples of Humanities Essay Introduction

As an era of knowledge comes to an end, a fresh way of looking at the humanities is beginning to reemerge. Here we see the collective culmination of the humanities passing away with the baby boomers, only to be reborn in an age of scientific enlightenment and digital proliferation. These essays are concerned with the key questions of “What is the cost of this rebirth?”, “What is lost and what is gained?”, and “What is there to do in the face of grand extinction?”. What we are really asking is whether the humanities are worthy of being resurrected and placed into the hands of the upcoming generation. These are obviously difficult questions to answer, and an individual who is skeptically peering into this issue will likely have a very different opinion than one who is optimistically coloring it with the hopes of revival. However, this must not deter us; the questions are important to ask irrespective of the answers. Ultimately, we want to discern the importance of humanities education and, assuming it is still important, define the reasons why. This is an essay on the educational value of the humanities for the present day.

5. Conclusion

At a time of grave global uncertainty, the United States should be reaffirming its commitment to the knowledge and understanding provided by the humanities. Our nation is a global leader, and the decisions we make have a great impact on the entire world. Now is a time where we should be seeking to make better decisions for our own future and the future of the world. Now is a time where we need to consider the impact of our actions and use reason to decide on the best outcome for a world rife with problems. At a time when other nations are critical of US policy, we need students who can understand the perspective of other nations and seek to work with them to make the world a better place. Now is a time where we need humanity.

Humanities education holds great value in today’s society, and through showing an understanding of the past and its relationship to the present, provides the tools to mold the future. Through the critical and analytical thinking taught in humanities courses, students attain a balanced perspective on the world and its issues. By comparing differing outcomes through history, students may begin to make decisions based on past experiences. If a healthcare system in one country has failed, drawing parallels to the reasons behind its failure with another system may lead to a well-informed decision. Logic and reason are the cornerstones of humanities and are as crucial to the scientist as they are to the lawyer. By showing the impact of past decisions and their outcomes on society, humanities creates a framework from which to judge the quality of our decisions and make better decisions for the future.