Try to picture a society where the arts and humanities do not exist. There would be no music, art, or literature. Religion and philosophy would be nonexistent, the study of history would be nullified, and intelligent debate would never happen. Obviously, a culture like this would be dry, unimpassioned, and rather incomplete. However, this appears to be the type of world that is commonly depicted as ideal—a world where science, math, and technology reign supreme and the arts take a backseat.
Sarah Piper is from Richmond, VA, and is a sophomore double major in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication and Communication Studies. She\u27s involved in Campus Crusade for Christ and SafeRides, and is also a member of the Honors Program.
Sarah writes that  For this paper, Professor Lambert encouraged us to pick a topic that we were genuinely interested and invested in, so I decided to explore the place of the humanities in our culture. Since I am pursuing a career in writing, this topic is especially important to me as I think about the relevance of my future line of work and what I can contribute through my knowledge of areas of the humanities

Piper, Sarah

English

James Madison University

1		The	Humanities:	What	Keeps	Us	Human	Sarah	Piper		 Try	to	picture	a	society	where	the	arts	and	humanities	do	not	exist.	There	would	be	no	music,	art,	or	literature.	Religion	and	philosophy	would	be	nonexistent,	the	study	of	history	would	be	nullified,	and	intelligent	debate	would	never	happen.	Obviously,	a	culture	like	this	would	be	dry,	unimpassioned,	and	rather	incomplete.	However,	this	appears	to	be	the	type	of	world	that	is	commonly	depicted	as	ideal—a	world	where	science,	math,	and	technology	reign	supreme	and	the	arts	take	a	backseat	to	these	more	practical	fields.	Many	people	today	are	discounting	the	value	of	the	humanities	and	attempting	to	minimize	their	importance	in	education	as	well	as	their	significance	to	daily	life.		In	modern	culture,	the	humanities	tend	to	attract	much	more	derision	than	respect.	They	have	been	labeled	as	elitist,	outdated,	and	unnecessary.	Their	funding	has	been	drastically	cut	and	their	status	in	universities	significantly	reduced.	The	justification	for	these	actions:	that	science,	math,	and	engineering	are	more	practical	and	applicable	in	real	life	and	therefore	deserve	more	money	and	more	attention.	This	has	not	always	been	the	case	though.	The	humanities,	especially	fields	such	as	writing,	debate,	and	philosophy,	used	to	be	regarded	as	very	valuable.	The	founders	of	our	country,	from	Thomas	Jefferson	on,	promoted	civic	involvement	and	liberal	arts	education	from	the	very	beginning.	However,	as	our	culture	becomes	increasingly	technologically	minded,	the	humanities	have	been	pushed	to	the	periphery.		As	a	Writing	and	Rhetoric	major,	I	feel	the	need	to	defend	my	area	of	study	by	arguing	that	what	I	am	studying	is	in	fact	significant	in	the	global	scheme	of	things.	The	humanities	remain	highly	relevant	and	important	today,	despite,	and	perhaps	even	in	2		connection	with,	our	technologically	minded	culture.	Throughout	my	paper,	I	will	discuss	the	place	of	the	arts	in	education,	in	government,	and	in	modern	culture	as	a	whole,	as	well	as	the	ways	in	which	science	and	the	humanities	complement	each	other.		The	first	place	where	the	humanities	are	often	attacked	is	in	schools	and	universities.	In	a	speech	by	creativity	expert	and	educational	adviser	Ken	Robinson,	titled	“Changing	Education	Paradigms,”	he	confronts	the	current	lack	of	emphasis	on	the	arts	in	education.	He	notes	that	the	arts	create	an	aesthetic	experience,	engaging	the	senses,	rather	than	an	anaesthetic	experience	such	as	that	provided	by	other	disciplines	like	science	and	math.	Robinson	brings	up	the	issue	of	the	“ADHD	epidemic”	that	some	claim	is	sweeping	the	US,	and	proposes	that	ADHD	is	not	really	a	problem	with	the	children	but	rather	with	the	educational	system.	The	way	children	are	taught	today	requires	them	to	shut	off	their	senses	and	simply	memorize	facts	in	order	to	“get	them	through	their	education”	(Robinson).	They	learn	hard-and-fast	facts	and	that	there	is	only	one	correct	answer	to	most	problems.	However,	a	focus	on	the	arts	would	allow	children	to	learn	as	they	are	naturally	inclined:	by	using	all	of	their	senses	(Robinson).	Areas	such	as	theater,	music,	and	art	are	especially	useful	in	encouraging	students	to	employ	all	of	their	senses	and	devise	creative	and	original	solutions.		Robinson	also	raises	the	topic	of	divergent	thinking,	or	the	ability	to	come	up	with	many	solutions	to	a	problem	rather	than	just	one.	Experiments	done	to	test	children’s	divergent	thinking	showed	that	their	aptitude	for	this	skill	decreased	significantly	in	direct	correlation	with	their	progress	in	school.	This	demonstrates	how	the	educational	system	stifles	this	type	of	thinking,	which	could	be	encouraged	through	more	instruction	in	the	arts	(Robinson).	In	“The	Relevance	of	Liberal	Arts	to	a	Prosperous	Democracy”	by	Martha	J.	3		Kanter,	she	brings	up	another	good	point:	that	instruction	in	the	arts	has	been	shown	to	benefit	students’	learning	in	other	areas	as	well.	The	lack	of	emphasis	on	aesthetic	fields	appears	to	stunt	important	critical	thinking	skills	and	goes	against	the	grain	of	a	child’s	natural	method	of	learning.	Outside	of	the	school	system,	the	humanities	still	have	value	in	real-life	situations.	Many	people,	particular	those	whose	occupations	involve	science	and	math,	doubt	this.	They	use	statements	such	as	“No	one	ever	died	of	English”	to	propose	that	the	humanities	do	not	have	practical,	useful	applications.	However,	in	“The	Case	for	History	and	the	Humanities,”	Gabrielle	M.	Spiegel		rebuts	this	claim	by	saying,	“Anyone	who	says	‘no	one	ever	died	of	the	humanities’	has	not	thought	much	about	what	happens	when	states	claim	the	right	to	define	what	humanity	is,	or	who	is	good	and	who	is	evil,	and	therefore	justify	movements	like	ethnic	cleansing.”	The	main	task	of	the	humanities	is	to	promote	understanding	of	other	cultures’	ways	of	living	and	to	emphasize	the	importance	of	every	human	life,	which	is	something	that	should	never	be	devalued	(Spiegel).	The	arts	give	perspective	about	the	world	and	other	cultures	and	discourage	discrimination	(Kanter).	Dimensions	of	the	humanities	involving	ethics	and	linguistics	are	crucial	in	situations	such	as	the	ongoing	war	in	Iraq,	which	the	US	entered	without	a	clear	understanding	of	the	politics,	religion,	and	culture	of	the	Iraqi	people	(Spiegel).	As	Spiegel	wisely	points	out,	“The	exercise	of	power	without	a	sense	of	ethical	responsibility	is	dangerous;	the	exercise	of	power	without	historical	knowledge	is	a	prescription	for	disaster.”	We	interact	with	all	kinds	of	people	on	a	daily	basis,	and	without	a	proper	understanding	and	respect	for	what	they	have	to	offer	through	our	understanding	of	the	humanities,	we	risk	getting	ourselves	in	big	trouble.		4		 As	demonstrated	by	the	example	of	the	war	in	Iraq,	the	humanities	are	of	great	importance	to	the	government	in	this	day	and	age.	In	“The	Relevance	of	the	Humanities,”	Harvard	professor	Gabriel	Paquette	encourages	more	partnership	between	colleges	and	government	in	the	areas	of	the	humanities.	Paquette	suggests	that	“It	is	not	farfetched	to	imagine	government-university	collaboration	on	a	wide	range	of	crucial	issues,	including	public	transport	infrastructure,	early	childhood	education,	green	design,	civil	war	mediation,	food	security,	ethnic	strife,	poverty	alleviation,	city	planning,	and	immigration	reform.”	Clearly,	assistance	from	students	in	humanities	fields	is	in	high	demand	as	far	as	the	government	is	concerned.	Fields	such	as	law,	foreign	languages,	and	philosophy	can	be	especially	useful	here;	researchers	in	the	humanities	also	can	have	good	insights	into	human	behavior,	communication	across	cultures,	and	historical	perspectives	on	current	issues	(Paquette).	This	is	especially	important	considering	the	US’s	prominent	place	in	the	world	order	and	the	many	cultures	with	which	we	interact.	In	fact,	in	2004,	the	government	issued	the	Call	to	Action	for	National	Foreign	Language	Capabilities,	acknowledging	the	need	for	the	humanities	in	foreign	relations	(Spiegel).	Not	only	does	the	study	of	the	humanities	help	us	to	better	understand	other	cultures,	but	it	also	gives	us	a	better	understanding	of	our	own	nation	and	what	we	stand	for	and	support	as	a	country	(Spiegel).		The	humanities	also	have	other	applications	in	real	life	beyond	foreign	relations	and	diplomacy.	As	Chuks	Oluigbo	proposes	in	“Nigeria:	The	Relevance	of	Art	to	Practical	Living,”	one	of	Nigeria’s	most	widely	recognized	uses	of	the	humanities	is	as	a	source	of	pleasure	and	relaxation.	The	humanities,	such	as	art	and	literature,	provide	leisure	activities	that	also	broaden	the	mind	(Oluigbo).	At	the	very	least,	the	humanities	are	sources	of	aesthetic	beauty	that	can	be	appreciated	and	enjoyed	(Oluigbo).	On	a	more	5		practical	note,	employers	today	value	strong	writing,	communication,	and	teamwork	skills,	which	are	all	abilities	that	are	fostered	by	the	humanities	(Kanter).	The	arts	also	can	be	a	way	of	teaching	moral	truths	and	bringing	social	wrongdoings	out	into	the	open	(Oluigbo).	Often,	an	issue	that	someone	might	be	afraid	to	directly	address	could	be	brought	to	light	through	a	work	of	art,	a	song,	or	a	poem	in	a	much	less	obtrusive	and	confrontational	way.	One	of	the	most	important	roles	of	the	arts	is	to	pass	down	aspects	of	a	culture	(Oluigbo).	The	humanities	capture	the	essence	of	a	society—the	sufferings,	worries,	and	passions	of	a	people—which	science,	math,	and	technology,	valuing	fact	over	feeling,	can	never	do	(Robinson).	Because	the	humanities	are	not	founded	on	facts	but	rather	promote	creativity	and	imagination,	their	manifestations	vary	from	culture	to	culture,	and	understanding	these	variations	helps	us	to	better	understand	as	well	as	cooperate	with	our	fellow	human	beings.	I	believe	this	is	by	far	the	most	significant	application	of	the	humanities;	living	in	harmony	with	other	people	is	absolutely	essential	to	a	prosperous,	peaceful,	and	happy	life.		Of	course,	no	one	attempts	to	deny	that	math	and	science	contribute	significant	concepts	as	well.	In	fact,	great	results	can	often	come	from	collaboration	between	the	sciences	and	humanities.	Surprisingly,	liberal	arts	colleges	give	almost	twice	as	many	doctorates	in	sciences	as	other	universities	do	per	capita,	demonstrating	that	even	in	colleges	centered	on	the	humanities,	the	sciences	are	by	no	means	considered	inconsequential	(Kanter).	According	to	Kanter,	who	is	the	Under	Secretary	of	the	Department	of	Education,	“a	new	melding	of	the	arts	and	sciences	at	the	margin	of	the	disciplines	can	foster	an	explosion	of	creativity	and	innovation	resulting	in	new	fields	of	study.”	The	collaboration	of	two	seemingly	opposite	branches	of	learning	has	the	potential	to	produce	radical	new	ways	of	thinking.	STEM	fields	(science,	technology,	engineering,	and	6		mathematics)	are	often	lauded	for	their	ability	to	teach	problem	solving	and	adaptive	solution	seeking,	but	the	arts	are	capable	of	teaching	these	skills	as	well	because	they	value	“divergent	thinking”	and	creativity	(Kanter).	Additionally,	instruction	in	the	humanities	has	been	shown	to	help	students	in	other	areas	of	learning	including	math	and	reading,	and	it	results	in	better	grades	and	higher	graduation	rates	(Kanter).	Despite	these	benefits,	some	would	still	argue	that	the	humanities	are	irrelevant	and	unimportant,	claiming	that	factual	scientific	knowledge	is	the	only	thing	important	to	the	modern	world	or	that	the	humanities	are	outdated,	leftover	from	a	long-gone	way	of	life.	With	the	increasing	significance	of	fields	such	as	medicine	and	technology,	many	people	question	why	the	humanities	should	continue	to	receive	funding	in	our	schools	and	universities.	Why	are	they	relevant?	According	to	Oluigbo,	“The	word	‘relevance’	presupposes	usefulness	and	value.”	The	humanities	possess	both	of	these	qualities.	Their	value	comes	through	the	fact	that	they	are	a	source	of	beauty	and	a	joy	to	many	people	and	that	they	provide	historical	perspective	(Oluigbo).	However,	arguments	for	the	humanities	based	on	their	historical	worth	and	sensory	appeal	are	often	not	enough	to	convince	critics;	therefore,	one	must	consider	why	they	are	also	useful.	Gabrielle	M.	Spiegel	perhaps	states	it	best,	saying,	“The	case	for	historical	and	humanistic	study	rests	on	our	ability	to	address	the	growing	needs	of	the	contemporary	world	for	historical,	linguistic,	and	cultural	competencies.”	While	it	is	true	that	the	arts	do	not	provide	cures	for	diseases	or	new	technology,	the	humanities	are	useful	because	they	allow	people	to	communicate	across	borders	and	deal	with	other	people	in	just	and	reasonable	ways.	They	promote	a	sense	of	morality	and	responsibility,	which	are	unquestionably	key	characteristics	we	look	for	in	our	leaders.	In	fact,	I	was	interested	to	learn	that	our	current	president	studied	for	two	7		years	at	a	liberal	arts	college,	and	nearly	20%	of	past	US	presidents	graduated	with	liberal	arts	degrees	(Kanter).	President	Obama	states	that	his	time	at	Occidental	College	helped	him	to	mature	and	to	begin	to	comprehend	the	world	beyond	himself	and	encouraged	him	to	dream	of	creating	change—all	because	of	a	well-rounded	education	that	included	ample	instruction	in	the	humanities	(Kanter).	Whether	in	the	school	system,	government	operations,	or	everyday	living,	the	humanities	play	a	significant	role	in	modern	society.	Though	some	would	claim	that	science	and	math	are	more	important,	the	truth	is	that	the	humanities	also	have	valuable	applications	and	insights	to	contribute	to	real-life	situations.	I	am	certainly	not	discounting	the	worth	of	the	sciences,	though.	In	fact,	when	the	arts	and	sciences	are	combined,	they	have	been	shown	to	produce	even	better	results	than	they	would	have	separately.	Therefore,	despite	skepticism,	the	humanities	remain	integral	to	our	understanding	of	the	world	and	people	around	us,	which	is	an	ability	that	should	never	be	undervalued.							 	8		 Works	Cited	Kanter,	Martha	J.	"The	Relevance	of	Liberal	Arts	to	a	Prosperous	Democracy."	US	Department	of	Education	Annapolis	Group	Conference.	Annapolis.	22	June	2010.	Address.	Web.	9	Mar.	2011	Oluigbo,	Chuks.	"Nigeria:	The	Relevance	of	Arts	to	Practical	Living."	All	Africa	12	Sept.	2010.	Web.	9	Mar.	2011.		Paquette,	Gabriel.	"The	Relevance	of	the	Humanities."	Inside	Higher	Ed.	22	Jan.	2009.	Web.	9	Mar.	2011.		Robinson,	Ken.	"Changing	Education	Paradigms."	Speech.	YouTube.	RSA.	14	Oct.	2010.	Web.	9	Mar.	2011.	Spiegel,	Gabrielle	M.	"The	Case	for	History	and	the	Humanities."	Perspectives	on	History	(2008).	Web.	9	Mar	2011.			

The Humanities: What Keeps Us Human

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The Humanities: What Keeps Us Human

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