11/02/2015
New post added at nettlesdesign.com - Why do the humanities matter?I have been volunteering for the Mattapoisett PTA since 2007. In 2008, I took over the position of Arts & Humanities Chair. In addition, I set up and maintain the website and page. For me, being in charge of the PTA Arts & Humanities has been my main focus and
I have been volunteering for the Mattapoisett PTA since 2007. In 2008, I took over the position of Arts & Humanities Chair. In addition, I set up and maintain the website and page. For me, being in charge of the PTA Arts & Humanities has been my main focus and a great experience. I have met many talented individuals — artists, poets, authors, storytellers, musicians, scientists — the list goes on. I have never thought anything else but “this is important”. To be honest, at first I wanted EVERYONE to love my choices. Now I know that is an impossible venture anywhere in life! If I can inspire one student, show them something they have never seen and maybe give them a new direction, I have succeeded.
With that, I came across this article and thought I’d share.
Why do the humanities matter?
Original article website shc.stanford.edu
Insights Into Everything
Through exploration of the humanities we learn how to think creatively and critically, to reason, and to ask questions. Because these skills allow us to gain new insights into everything from poetry and paintings to business models and politics, humanistic subjects have been at the heart of a liberal arts education since the ancient Greeks first used them to educate their citizens.
Understanding Our World
Research into the human experience adds to our knowledge about our world. Through the work of humanities scholars, we learn about the values of different cultures, about what goes into making a work of art, about how history is made. Their efforts preserve the great accomplishments of the past, help us understand the world we live in, and give us tools to imagine the future.
Bringing Clarity to the Future
Today, humanistic knowledge continues to provide the ideal foundation for exploring and understanding the human experience. Investigating a branch of philosophy might get you thinking about ethical questions. Learning another language might help you gain an appreciation for the similarities in different cultures. Contemplating a sculpture might make you think about how an artist’s life affected her creative decisions. Reading a book from another region of the world, might help you think about the meaning of democracy. Listening to a history course might help you better understand the past, while at the same time offer you a clearer picture of the future.
