Criticisms Of Humanities Essay

In this paper, I plan to argue the ideas by Edward Conard, in his argument that we don’t need more humanities major in our academic system. In specific, this paper will explore the writer’s claims, the gaps in his arguments and counter-arguments in this topic. My argument is important because I will challenge Conard’s article with the self-fashioning’s article by Keohane.

Divergent and analytical thinking are vital skills. Humanities and Liberal Arts majors encourage critical thinking, and a broad knowledge of diverse topics. For example, English majors work well with analysis, grammar, and writing. Those skills can be applied to politics, law and business. Liberal Arts and Humanities majors learn to form strong opinions, evaluate, reflect, and problem solve because they are given opportunity to experiment, create, and collaborate with others. The Liberal Arts and Humanities can also be a great foundation for students who are determined to become leaders. Students will acquire all sorts of abilities that are necessary for leadership success like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication skills. These majors teach students how to think critically, and this is a key skill needed in all disciplines. A Liberal Arts degree does not equal total ignorance of how a computer or the economy works, nor does it mean that those students are missing out on critical knowledge. As a matter of fact, they have very important skills to offer. All the STEM in the world is useless without context. People need the ability to interpret data and incorporate humanity. It is important to have all aspects of education, STEM, liberal arts, and humanities. While STEM degrees may appear more translatable into a paycheck six months from now, some of the most successful people I have known were Liberal Arts majors. If you ask any employers what skills they would like to see in recent graduates, its communication skills, the ability to write well, and the ability to work well in groups. Liberal arts focused on reading, language and writing are equally important to society as STEM subjects are. Liberal Arts and Humanities graduates may not go on to jobs that are as profitable as engineering of physical science careers, but they fill jobs that are important to a

So, what exactly does Humanism mean? According to the Stanford University’s Humanities center, they describe the humanities as, “The study of how people process and document the human experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language to understand and record our world. These modes of expression have become some of the subjects that traditionally fall under the humanities umbrella. Knowledge of these records of human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection to those who have come before us, as well as to our contemporaries.”

Humanities are required for the development of an individual’s creativity and expression, without these skills our society would be monotonous and bland. Our nation was built on the ideals of freedom and democracy, and although math and science help us to progress economically and technologically, they don’t help individuals to express themselves to be effectively represented by our government.

There were authors who will write about literature and their work would be looked as if it had an influence on science. Derrida and Kuhn’s were a big influence on English professor because they open one mind that literature does not have essence and that literary criticism is not science. The author also believes that people outside the profession are not interested in literature and

In fact, the matter goes beyond that reason. Why would someone choose a major that only focuses on conceptual ideas, and is not required in the job market unless it is for teaching the humanities? It seems like a never ending loop. One person can give a lecture to a hundred people, but not each one of them will be able to teach another hundred. While other majors that are demanded in the market are more vast and broad. An engineer can work in a company, on their own inventions, and even teach subjects related to their majors for instance. Brooks needed to see the matter from a realistic point of view, since the reason is, after all, economic in the first place. When he argues that a 19-years old freshman will see the humanities as a boring and useless major, he forgets – or misses to mention, that people go to universities to prepare themselves for the job market. And there is no point of going to the market with a certificate that will lead them nowhere. With that being said, Brooks also insists on quoting a history teacher, transmitting to the reader his own perspective of the reason he thinks is causing the

In this article What Does It Mean to Be Educated?, journalist Earl Shorris explains that the middle class and those who live in poverty have been cheated of one of the most valuable lessons, the humanities. He elaborates on his thesis when he says “Rich people learn the humanities; you didn’t. The humanities are a foundation for getting along in the world, for thinking, for learning to reflect on the world instead of just reacting to whatever

Now since we are being honest with each other, I can admit that I did not even know that one could major in the humanities. In comparison to the other sections, this course seemed less likely to include research-based papers or business related prompts. After some research, I am pleasantly surprised to discover that the humanities can be anything from music to history and culture and do not include any topics I find boring.

The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, which spanned from the late 1500’s to 1700’s, shaped today’s modern world through disregarding past information and seeking answers on their own through the scientific method and other techniques created during the Enlightenment. Newton’s ‘Philsophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ and Diderot’s Encyclopedia were both composed of characteristics that developed this time period through the desire to understand all life, humans are capable of understanding the Earth, and a sense of independence from not having to rely on the nobles or church for knowledge.

Question #1: Define classical humanism and illustrate by discussing the construction and decoration of the buildings of the Athenian acropolis. In your answer, refer specifically to the classical orders and the Parthenon’s sculptural decoration.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a fairly common complication in hospitalized patients. Nosocomial infection prevention and patient safety promotion has been issued and many researches have been conducted to improve patient’s quality of life. In this article, Saint et al. (2005) hypothesize that using a paper-based urinary catheter reminder can reduce the incidence of urinary catheterization, and consequently this will enhance the patients’ safety.

During the course I realized how large of a role art plays in helping create cultures and developing and preserving the history of civilizations. I find it interesting that when there’s no written history or any historical buildings, cultures will always make their own ancient past grander than what it really is. The Israelites, the Greeks and Romans all tell stories of their history that has no written proof. It seems that we as people want to have a connection to our roots and to understand where we come from. This is why I believe that most people want to believe in a higher power.

Throughout this course, we have been asked "What is humanities"? Humanities is the study of human beings by culture, the arts including theater, dance, and music. Within the humanities there are different eras that are represented such as the information age. The Information Age is a time period in our history where the traditional industry shifted to the Industrial Revolution. The Information Age is a great example of how progressively advanced a country can be in with-in a time period. This advancement in the Information Age has a discrepancy; such as the commencement of technology and the definition of digital, new methods of interaction between different people and devices. The physical component of the Information Age is a very important

Janaro, R & Altshuler, T. (2009). The Art of Being Human: The humanities as a technique for

This subject enhanced my organizational and presentation skills. Study skills project provide extensive knowledge in techniques for addressing academic task as well as handle large amount of research information. Sociology develops understanding of society as a whole and it also revaluate common assumptions that may not be true. I have acquired analytical, qualitative, evaluative and argumentative writing techniques from Sociology. Humanities define human culture and enquiries the purpose of humanity. This has developed my evaluation skills to examine varies source materials. English for academic purpose can enhance my writing and reading skills to an academic matter.