The Importance of the Humanities

“The humanities have been forced to disguise, both from themselves and their students, why their subjects really matter, for the sake of attracting money and prestige in a world obsessed by the achievements of science.”

–Alain de Botton

Historically, the pursuit of education has been reserved for the privileged few whose hours and days weren’t consumed by labor. When we imagine the educated elite of the past, we see images of lofty drawing rooms filled with mostly male, mostly European students spending their afternoons studying physics, astronomy, art, and philosophy. The majority of the global population has not been allowed in that world for much of human history.

In the 21st century, however, college campuses have grown more equitable, with student bodies that reflect diversity on all levels. Not all academic subjects are afforded the same job opportunities and professional prestige, though. For decades, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have reigned supreme as the most respected and lucrative disciplines. 

Students, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, are often encouraged to choose a college major that guarantees a high-paying job upon graduation. This capitalistic drive often leads them to STEM, resulting in liberal arts programs becoming woefully underfunded or axed altogether. 

In this sense, not much has changed since the early days: certain fields of study still tend to be reserved for the privileged few who aren’t as occupied with making money.

We haven’t forgotten the importance of the humanities, though. And if the research programs we offer are any indication, we’re staunch advocates of a simple truth: STEM may question the what and how of life, but the humanities question the why.

Understanding the Role of the Humanities in Society

The humanities constitute a wide range of disciplines that explore the human condition on an individual, societal, cultural, and historical scale. 

By studying subjects like fine arts, history, communications, literature, performing arts, and so much more, we refine our understanding of shared values like social justice and quality of life.

An education in the humanities also provides students with “soft skills” that are increasingly valuable in the professional arena and interpersonal relationships. In a world hyper-fixated on endlessly increasing profit, however, it can be difficult to quantify or qualify non-monetary value.

But to us, the benefits are clear.

Human beings are, primarily, a social species; we thrive when in connection with one another. Over the millennia, we have grappled with harmful forces like greed, political corruption, violence, and other abuses of power that threaten or outright destroy these connections to the detriment of us all. 

By applying what we learn from the study of humanity, however, we take an active role in preventing the formation of these toxic power dynamics and restoring broken social contracts, ultimately improving the human experience worldwide. 

When our focus leans too heavily on capital gains, we risk prioritizing profit over people. Over time, this inevitably spirals into the neglect of people groups, which diminishes culture, education, and social programs. That decline in quality of life, caused by the negligence of the humanities, gives rise to innumerable societal ills that can be extremely difficult to recover from.

According to Forbes, “studying the humanities — grappling with those things that quite literally make us human, the skills and ways of thinking that for generations young people have gone to college to encounter, debate, pore over, and master — is every bit as important to future success in the workplace as learning to code, calculate, or raise capital.”

So yes, we pride ourselves in advocating for our students who find fulfillment and motivation in studying theatre or philosophy. We offer research programs each season that pair our scholars with highly respected professors who are experts in subjects like global sustainability and sociopsychology.

When we see the current trends highlighting shifts away from the humanities in academia, we see opportunities for our scholars to fill the voids with innovative research that presents original solutions to real-world problems. The importance of the humanities cannot and should not be understated. We all benefit from those students and professionals who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place.