what is the value of studying the humanities essay

what is the value of studying the humanities essay

The Importance of Studying the Humanities

1. Introduction

It is here that a rescue mission is needed to preserve the humanities, and one can only hope that this work on the side of defense will serve as a catalyst for future discussions inside and outside the academic environment.

In the last few years, there has been a growing literature generated from within the soft sciences that attempts to appropriate certain areas of philosophy and to integrate them in a specific neurobiological context. Now defenders of the humanities, in search of self-preservation, need to try to demonstrate that a distinctive and autonomous mode of inquiry exists, and one that need not be beholden to the methodological and evidential standards of another field. This is a difficult and chancy procedure. Often times, the upshot of it will not be a compelling argument; it will be merely a relapse into that which one is trying to defend the subject against. But at least, this is a risk that needs to be taken, and one that has been taken quite valiantly in some recent works of philosophy, coming at a time when increasing numbers of philosophy departments are changing their own standards of admissions for graduate students to include only those with strong backgrounds in the sciences.

There are two primary duties that get fulfilled when allocating an extended work to defense of the humanities. The first is to present a case to the outside world that an object of study exists and the methods of study do indeed constitute a genuine mode of inquiry. When philosophers attempt to justify the unique value of their discipline, they are taking it for granted that their subject matter is a legitimate area of philosophical inquiry. But the modes of inquiry and standards of evidence that give the subject its identity as a field of inquiry are always potentially up for grabs. The case for the uniqueness of a humanities discipline is most acute when it comes under attack from another more parascientific field.

2. Understanding Human Experience

The human experience is valuable in its variance. A study of humanities both provides understanding of the past and present as well as the changing future. A diverse world is in existence for the difficult lesson that one size does not fit all, and humanity is often about trying to find the person who does. The humanities can prepare someone for this inevitability while simultaneously helping them to comprehend the value in the search. This is particularly important in an era where things rapidly become “more different” and the very concept of a global society is hard-pressed to determine a course of action.

The study of humanities allows people of various “backgrounds” to see how they are not so different. It provides answers for the ways in which people have coped with their conditions, which are not necessarily unique to people of a single era or a single culture. At the same time, the humanities can provide a sort of comfort for a person in questioning by showing the ways in which others have been comfortable with the very same questions. This is the closest thing to an answer that we can expect.

To understand the complete human experience, the study of the humanities is fundamental. They are the medium through which a person can grasp a beginning understanding of the conflicting issues of humankind and learn to feel comfortable with the questions that generally have few answers. So often today, a human being’s life is questioned for its value. Rarely is it understood that value lies simply in asking the question of the meaning of life. The answer is irrelevant; the act of wondering is not.

3. Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Being a critical thinker involves a set of values and attitudes to life that determines in which way of taking in information we engage. These values are best understood when contrasted with the values of the unreflective thinker or someone who either has not developed critical thinking or is using it in a narrow, self-serving way.

When we read, write, listen, speak, or analyze visual information, we may do so in a self-centered way by taking in information uncritically, associating it with our own thoughts and feelings, and so on. Conversely, we may take the information from a source’s point of view, looking at what the person believes, what the person is trying to achieve, and whether they are using the best available method. This gives us the opportunity to analyze the quality of the information and the judgments deriving from it, determining whether it is accurate, consistent, relevant, and complete.

Critical thinking is a complex cognitive skill that an individual may develop. As a critical thinker, a person must be able to make clear and precise judgments about what to believe or how to act, and must be able to give good reasons in support of our judgments. This involves abilities to both generate accurate and relevant information, and also to judge the quality of information and its sources.

4. Cultivating Empathy and Compassion

Many of the situations in which people are in need are situations which require a compassionate response from others. Studies have shown that the use of empathy and compassion are effective in the treatment of mental disorders and distress. In Suzuki’s discussion of the premedical curriculum, he suggests that one of the goals for medical students would be to “become a physician with a kind heart and warm understanding.” This proposition assumes that these qualities can be taught, and it makes perfect sense to suggest that the study of human feelings and behaviors is the best way to teach them.

Understanding the feelings and thoughts of others is a complex cognitive task which involves taking the perspective of others and comprehending their emotions. This process is largely based on knowledge about human behavior, and it occurs when we encounter the human struggles and experiences of another person. Renaissance works of art are a great example of how images can teach human emotions. In Samuel Johnson’s Life of Gray, the poet speaks of how a picture will teach the observer and enable him to teach others. The picture of the children at the seashore who are drawing figures in the sand only to have the waves wash their work away teaches a profound lesson. A friend tried to dissuade the poet from putting the image into words because he said it was trite. Gray’s response was “Let him hold his tongue; it is a good lesson and a true, and therefore I will have it.” This is an illustration of how humanities works help to teach feelings and experiences. Understanding those same feelings and experiences is what we call compassion. Like empathy, compassion is something that can be learned and must be practiced.

That thought brings me to the fourth reason to study the humanities. Empathy is the capacity to share and understand another’s state of mind or feeling. It is often characterized as the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes,” or to in some way experience the outlook of another person. It has also been described as the ability to understand another person’s state of mind, to be able to “feel” oneself into another person. There is a quote by C.S. Lewis on empathy: “For you do not think so clearly when you are not feeling reality.” No matter how empathetic you believe yourself to be, everyone could learn to be more empathetic. It is something that is in a constant state of fluctuation and can be improved upon. So how is empathy cultivated and what does it have to do with the humanities?

5. Enhancing Cultural Understanding

Every culture has its own history and way of thinking. However, due to globalization, there are still some convergences in the places where the trend comes. The divergence of the trend can lead to social problems, varying from not being able to accept the differences to rigidity that ultimately hurts each other. We can prevent and overcome it by knowing the cultures, ways of thinking, and the history of a place. Studying a culture can be done through its language, ways of thinking, and its history. In this case, the humanity learning method is very suitable for accomplishing it. By analyzing old writings such as folklore or ancient manuscripts, we can get information about the life when the writing was made. By comparing it with the current culture, we will know if the culture has increased or decreased. This will give us an overview of the change in culture. This can be very important to society or the nation in the future to evaluate what kind of culture gives an advantage and to hold onto it, and what kind of culture gives a disadvantage and should be avoided.