I left the humanities as a career path decades ago. The various themes the author describes were already tuning up then. Yet I still do believe that a couple years of a general liberal arts education (things like history, literature, economics, political science or civics, rhetoric, nonfiction writing,, a 2nd language) could be useful as an underpinning to any career, no matter how technical. And might also make for more engaged citizens. I work at the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship, and cultural inquiry. My BA has served me well. But I’m unclear if a BA in 2025 is characterized by the rigour and spirit of broad curiousity that was required by my department.
Completely agree with you. Both in principle and by my own experiences.
However, there is not a chance in 'ell a BA in 2025 s characterized by the rigour and spirit of broad curiousity, and tolerance, that was required in yours and mine time.
I started reading this article with low expectations. “Humanities” does not sound interesting to me. But, I will give anything published by The Line a chance. I was quickly sucked in and engaged by Simon’s writing. This was a very interesting read and good food for thought!
I guess we agree that "the indoctrination camp of the university humanities department " should not survive, as it has done enormous damage to the society already.
Let us hope that the "Philosophical inquiry by the curious will survive, as it has for thousands of years, in all corners of the Earth.", because it has to survive the likes of Trump, MAGA, Putin, and his KGB (changes of name are irrelevant), Trudeau, Carney, Laurentians, CBC, MSM, Chinese Communist Party, and other demagogues and dictators.
Having a classical education, allowing for a greater appreciation and understanding of humanity and science, is a luxury most cannot afford. The focus on a vocation is natural, but many would choose to study the humanities later, if time, access and finances allowed.
That said, we are entering a dark age. The hijacking of science has paralleled the equally important fall of the humanities. Lay priests of the pseudosciences point to their bibles of statistics and modelling, works that they cannot understand, preaching, to their innumerate audience, that this is the path forward.
Good choice for a column. Very useful and timely information. At least for me, who has grown deeply scornful of some aspects of today's higher education. This leaves me less negative about the future of humanities at the University level and about the quality of those students who attend these courses.
Good article, I only question this framed as an emerging issue. In 1975, after high school, my father and I talked about not pursuing business but a more classical education. He said you can always learn accounting. I did a rounded degree with most studies in Classics, English and Anthropology, both physical and social as it was in the day. I also, as a male, attended some early Women's Studies classes. Those were quite interesting in the mid 70's. I am a capitalist at my heart and although I took Economics 101 my views on the necessity for a profit motive were not shared by the professor or the TA. So my lifelong disdain for economists was born of my education. Same was true in the Social Anthropology courses where much of the tutorial "discussion" was about the movement forward in resolution of the class conflict in Britain. I was perhaps a tad aggressive, continually reminding everyone that Britain needed a bailout from the IMF. The final exam that year was take home multiple choice. Early new education. A friend's girlfriend, same course different TA, and I did the exam together. Same answers. She got an A, I got a D. I finished my degree with the experience that what I considered to be a Classical Education, operating much as described in this piece, were in fact in the English and Classics department. The rest was unabashed Marxism. Good for some but not why I went to university.
Thank you Simon. While I often grumbled about my humanities electives they did, in hindsight, provide me with meaningful ways to evaluate and try and understand multiple alternative perspectives throughout my life thus far.
I left the humanities as a career path decades ago. The various themes the author describes were already tuning up then. Yet I still do believe that a couple years of a general liberal arts education (things like history, literature, economics, political science or civics, rhetoric, nonfiction writing,, a 2nd language) could be useful as an underpinning to any career, no matter how technical. And might also make for more engaged citizens. I work at the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship, and cultural inquiry. My BA has served me well. But I’m unclear if a BA in 2025 is characterized by the rigour and spirit of broad curiousity that was required by my department.
Completely agree with you. Both in principle and by my own experiences.
However, there is not a chance in 'ell a BA in 2025 s characterized by the rigour and spirit of broad curiousity, and tolerance, that was required in yours and mine time.
I started reading this article with low expectations. “Humanities” does not sound interesting to me. But, I will give anything published by The Line a chance. I was quickly sucked in and engaged by Simon’s writing. This was a very interesting read and good food for thought!
Philosophical inquiry by the curious will survive, as it has for thousands of years, in all corners of the Earth.
Whether the indoctrination camp of the university humanities department survives, however, is a different question.
I guess we agree that "the indoctrination camp of the university humanities department " should not survive, as it has done enormous damage to the society already.
Let us hope that the "Philosophical inquiry by the curious will survive, as it has for thousands of years, in all corners of the Earth.", because it has to survive the likes of Trump, MAGA, Putin, and his KGB (changes of name are irrelevant), Trudeau, Carney, Laurentians, CBC, MSM, Chinese Communist Party, and other demagogues and dictators.
The more our universities look and act like the Parthenon in it's day, the better.
Having a classical education, allowing for a greater appreciation and understanding of humanity and science, is a luxury most cannot afford. The focus on a vocation is natural, but many would choose to study the humanities later, if time, access and finances allowed.
That said, we are entering a dark age. The hijacking of science has paralleled the equally important fall of the humanities. Lay priests of the pseudosciences point to their bibles of statistics and modelling, works that they cannot understand, preaching, to their innumerate audience, that this is the path forward.
The academy owns this descent.
Good choice for a column. Very useful and timely information. At least for me, who has grown deeply scornful of some aspects of today's higher education. This leaves me less negative about the future of humanities at the University level and about the quality of those students who attend these courses.
"Social media and the smartphone have turned us into twitchy dopamine fiends incapable of sustained attention." I worry for our grandchildren. :(
Good article, I only question this framed as an emerging issue. In 1975, after high school, my father and I talked about not pursuing business but a more classical education. He said you can always learn accounting. I did a rounded degree with most studies in Classics, English and Anthropology, both physical and social as it was in the day. I also, as a male, attended some early Women's Studies classes. Those were quite interesting in the mid 70's. I am a capitalist at my heart and although I took Economics 101 my views on the necessity for a profit motive were not shared by the professor or the TA. So my lifelong disdain for economists was born of my education. Same was true in the Social Anthropology courses where much of the tutorial "discussion" was about the movement forward in resolution of the class conflict in Britain. I was perhaps a tad aggressive, continually reminding everyone that Britain needed a bailout from the IMF. The final exam that year was take home multiple choice. Early new education. A friend's girlfriend, same course different TA, and I did the exam together. Same answers. She got an A, I got a D. I finished my degree with the experience that what I considered to be a Classical Education, operating much as described in this piece, were in fact in the English and Classics department. The rest was unabashed Marxism. Good for some but not why I went to university.
Thank you Simon. While I often grumbled about my humanities electives they did, in hindsight, provide me with meaningful ways to evaluate and try and understand multiple alternative perspectives throughout my life thus far.