Kevin Corrigan Analysis

In recent discussion of the purpose of a liberal arts education, a controversial issue has been whether it is “just filling you up with knowledge”. On one hand, some argue that it is just a good prerequisite to have. From this perspective, the point of earning a degree is to get a better career. On the other hand, however, others argue that a degree “has actual human value”. In the words of David Foster Wallace, one of this view’s main proponents, “a liberal arts education is not so much filling you up with knowledge as it is about ‘teaching you how to think’”. According to this view, having a degree affects how you think. In sum, then, the issue is whether a liberal arts education teaches you how to think positively or not through your banal “adult life”

The system in which he is employed as a professor, is a system “where the grades mean less and less” 155 and some of the degrees one can earn through such a system seem to be meaningless (he dubs the Master of Arts degree “a de facto fifth college year” (155 and 159). describing leading universities as a “mechanism for convincing ourselves that poor people deserve their poverty,’ and that if you’re rich, you got that way ‘because you’re better.’ Defines higher learning institutions meant to enlighten as institutions that merely separate (135). And though he lectures at Columbia University (one of the best in the world), where ideas are pumped out organically and passionately, Delbanco seems to have given up on the system that grants him the ability to learn and research and share his knowledge to his heart’s content. He writes that writing about college should be equated to writing a “funeral dirge” and that “[colleges and universities] really are more lost than ever” (150 and

The author Kristof believes the humanities enrich humans and finances as it develops valuable interpersonal and communicative skills. Interpersonal and communicative skills of workers in the current workforce are valuable and create diverse workers who can also engage in technical skills. As stated by the author everyone’s ethics are being challenged and questioned through social networks, stories, and new scientific findings. The humanities shape our decision-making skills ethically by weighing the benefits and effects that contribute to scientific discoveries. Kristof states that the humanities further our understanding of diverse cultures and people’s feelings through literature. With a better understanding of others, this leads to a better environment of understanding Earth and the population as stated by the essay.

Consequently, knowledge is power; higher education’s primary role and contribution to economic development remains in its traditional obligation: creating an educated society. In addition to that, the current economy has caused the conventional academic mission to be extremely significant (Rockefeller Institute of Government, 2010). The paradigm shift in the twenty-first century is more knowledge

In Simon Young’s essay “Universities, Governments and Industry: Can the Essential Nature of Universities Survive the Drive to Commercialize?” Young implies many universities increase their focus on commercializing rather than focusing to increase a higher branch of learning for university students. Throughout the essay Young voices his concern for this issue through the use of statistics, concrete facts, research and by acknowledging the issue Young is able to inform his readers about the increase rate of commercialization from universities which he believes is a universities purpose. Young notes 40 years of his life were spent at Universities and this allows the gain of credibility. Young’s audience are members of psychiatry and

Chris McCandless, the subject of Jon Krakauer's “ Into The Wild,” whose off-the-grid Alaskan adventure ended in starvation is a hero, and an idealist whose sense of independence  and adventure inspires us to reach for our dreams. McCandless was a courageous man. He wanted to live a life that was completely different from the one his parents lead, and wanted to submerge himself in the world. However, most students see McCandless

Mark Edmundson is a professor of English at the University of Virginia. In his work “On the Uses of a Liberal Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students” Edmundson argues about Liberal-arts education of Universities. For him liberal-arts education was an ineffective way of education. He also mentioned that if we want to understand current universities we should not look of expert’s view, but turn to the class rooms and campuses, where new ideas are born.

But, what makes it beneficial to learn about in educational setting? This is exactly the topic that Witt brings to the reader’s attention when she asks the question, “What, it may well be asked, can the study of the humanities do for a student at the beginning of the twenty-first century?”. People started studying the humanities for hundreds of years. But, times have changed and along with that, what is important for young people to learn has changed. 30 years ago it was not important for elementary school children to learn to type, but know it is taught in almost every elementary school. Learning to analyze the humanities is important today because it helps the student to develop their own character as they discover what peaks their interest and it increases their own self knowledge. Before studying European cultures, they may not know that their Christmas tradition of parents hiding a pickle ornament on the tree for the children to find on christmas morning is because of their German heritage or that the reason their grandmother yells about taking your shoes off before entering the house is a showing of respect in Chinese culture. Also, Witt emphasizes the importance of the idea, “judge only after attempting to understand”. This is important in many situations of life with going throughout your adult life. It also may be helpful when meeting

A common belief today is that the humanities have lost their place in modern America. After a controversial article on the humanities, written by Stanley Fish, was published by The New York Times, many of the online readers had disagreeing or negative comments proving that some Americans still long for the humanities. What Fish could not accept, and what most of the readers believed in, was that the humanities have a specific purpose and task. McClay discusses the burdens of the humanities, but also the things that they are able to do for us. The two main burdens mentioned are the humanities as preceptor, and the humanities as task. McClay goes on to explain some ways in which that the humanities can be reborn in America’s society and also

Mark Croyle (my Father-in-law) is turning 60 on January 28th! Since the majority of our family and friends live a distance away we decided a card shower would be a fantastic way to show him all those that care! We would love for you all to send a card or letter with some favorite memories you have had with Mark!

Eagleton even held a chair position in the University of Oxford but quit when he was expected “in some respects to behave less as a scholar than a CEO.” (Eagleton). This shows that a student’s education isn’t as crucial as making money. The focus of the university has shifted from teaching students to researching. It’s “research that bring in the money, not courses.” (Eagleton). And because of this, teaching has become less vital over the years because it doesn’t bring in the cash. The “humanities departments must now support themselves mainly by the tuition fees they receive” because they don’t receive any grants. Other departments like engineering and sciences are pulling all the students away causing the humanities departments to starve of funds. Universities don’t really produce pastors or theologians anymore because these jobs don’t produce money. In conclusion, the author is building the argument that universities are like businesses, they will do whatever is possible to make money. There is no balance between arts and sciences anymore, its all about which bring in the most money and the science departments do it really

First and foremost, the humanities implore one to rethink the way in which they think. My experience in the Search courses have challenged my way of thought. Reading the works of people such

War has taken a toll on people for generations. People who once had homes and lives were given labels such as “refugee” and “alien” and were cast aside as the rest of the world moved on. In these societies, the children suffer the worst but through it all there is dignity in their lives and a persevering hope for a better future despite their present situations. Photographer Steve McCurry traveled to Afghanistan right before the Soviet Invasion of 1979 and took a portrait of a girl whose story would remain a mystery for years after being one of National Geographic’s most recognizable photos. In Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry, he argues that in places which appear to be devoid of hope, humanity still prevails.

“We need humanities majors more now than before to strengthen competitiveness and improve products and services”(Madsbjerg/Rasmussen 473). In this essay, the authors are great at explaining their argument. However, they did not have the same success when supporting their argument. There were a decent amount of strengths, but an almost similar amount of weaknesses. Madsbjerg and Rasmussen mention corporate leaders who have all majored in Humanities. Which helps their claim in the slightest amount because the people listed are may not be known to the public. On the contrary, it also obstructs them because this essay is not only presented to professional analysts, but the general public as well, who may not be able to envision their statements

However, consider the shape of university life as it was found-and then rejected-by Leaves when he entered Cambridge immediately after World War I. Until the last decades of the 19th century, taking up the study of “literature” in the university meant studying the classics that means,