Why we should teach the humanities: An outsider's perspective

Abstract

The humanities currently are under attack in many quarters. This brief chapter offers a perspective on why they are valuable to teach. Rather than emphasizing their role in illuminating what it means to be human or the like, this chapter underlines their utility in teaching skills and types of knowledge. In particular, it summarizes the role of different aspects of the humanities in interpretation, vicarious learning, understanding human nature, acquiring values, and enhancing experience. The chapter ends with an observation that these skills and knowledge are only useful if they transfer beyond the original context, so that students can use them in their daily lives.