Gambescia, Stephen F.

English

epublications@Marquette

Conversations on Jesuit Higher EducationVolume 40 Re-creating Jesuit Higher Education: TheGeneral's Challenge Article 239-1-2011Formal Study in the Humanities? Get RealStephen F. GambesciaFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversationsRecommended CitationGambescia, Stephen F. (2011) "Formal Study in the Humanities? Get Real," Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education: Vol. 40, Article23.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversations/vol40/iss1/23Conversations 43During the course of my formal studies in the human-ities family, friends, and co-workers expressed puz-zlement over this choice of major for graduate stud-ies. They would ask: “What are you going to dowith it?” I knew implicitly what they meant by “dowith it.” How would a degree in the humanities helpanyone get a “better” job or help “advance” a career? Get real. Having read Father Adolfo Nicolás’s, remarks (Mexico City– 23 April 2010), I can say that time invested helps with his callfor “promoting depth of thought and imagination” and avoidsfalling prey to a “superficiality” of advanced learning. Now more than ever people believe that continuing one’seducation should have more to do with learning the habits ofindustry, rather than the “frivolous” habits of the heart. Socialcommentators for decades, if not centuries, have challengedthe raison de’etre of what an institution of higher educationprovides for the adult continuing education student. For exam-ple, Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America, writtenbetween 1835 and 1840, pointed out the many ways Americanswere facile in the practicality of the arts and sciences but quiteshallow in a theoretical understanding of the sciences and lessreflective and contemplative when it came to the humanities. In recent time most are familiar with Alan Bloom’s 1986work The Closing of the American Mind and a subsequentGiants and Dwarfs (1990) explaining that the academy hasdrifted too far from having students engage in subjects thatallowed for contemplation of the big questions in life, andinstead has introduced a myriad of disciplines and sub-disci-plines that simply “prepare” students for jobs and have themconduct ordinary business, rather than directing studentsonto their vision quest toward “human completeness.” Bloomargues that students, especially our best students, should beinvestigating fundamental questions to become a truly edu-cated person — for example, What is man? And studentsshould continue to ask the enduring questions that havebeen asked since the beginning of human history: What ismy relationship to the world? The most intimate question forstudents to consider is Who am I?Father Nicolás reminds us that “depth of thought and imag-ination are distinguishing marks of the Ignatian tradition.” Thisimagination must not be confused with fantasy, which is notreal, but a strategy to reach deep down the mystery of thehuman person, use different modes of thinking, and recognizevarious patterns in our lives. To be “excellent Jesuit universities”these schools must move students beyond being bright, skilled,and competent graduates, to ones that have an “active creativeimagination” that helps transform one to a life of service, virtue,and truth understanding. What better way to reach this objec-tive than to undertake formal studies in the humanities? Formal studies in the humanities helps one explore theexpanse of human experience, thought, and practice. Itmoves one out of a parochial intellectual comfort zones, togo places where normally one would not go. I don’tbegrudge those who question the practicality in studying thehumanities. Truthfully, I entered with some reticence andmarched on with humble reserve. Having completed formalstudies in the humanities, there came a surprising “transfor-mative of person.” Prior to this, I felt blessed and could gainsupport among three pillars: 1) Ignatian Spirit; 2) Intellect;and 3) Industry. However, compared with the three-leggedstool, the support is not complete without the seat.Formation in the humanities can be that seat. Father Nicolás challenged those running the Jesuit acad-emies to “…forge intellectual bridges between Gospel andculture, faith and reason, for the sake of the world and itsgreat questions and problems.” I found the formal studies inthe humanities to be that bridge, helping me to crisscrossbetween the three pillars. It helps one see the world not onlywith the “mind’s eye” but the eyes of the heart and soul. ■Formal Study in the Humanities? Get RealBy Stephen F. Gambescia Stephen F. Gambescia is a graduate of Saint Joseph’sUniversity (B.S., 1980) and Regis University (MBA, 1993)with 30 years experience in the public health field.sfg23@drexel.edu1Gambescia: Formal Study in the Humanities? Get RealPublished by e-Publications@Marquette, 201144 ConversationsLoyolaMarymountUniversity 2Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, Vol. 40, Iss. 1 [2011], Art. 23http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversations/vol40/iss1/23

Formal Study in the Humanities? Get Real

https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1669&amp;context=conversations

Formal Study in the Humanities? Get Real

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

epublications@Marquette