definition:

the humanities (n) 1. languages and literature, especially the classical Greek and Latin. 2. the branches of learning concerned with human thought and relations, as distinguished from the sciences; especially, literature and philosophy, and, often the fine arts, history, etc.


Background:

I started my undergrad work at a small liberal arts & sciences college (called Centre College, in KY), and the cirriculum there required every freshman to take Humanities 1 and 2 (No AP exemption). And the class served two purposes... it was a writing assessment course (English composition equivalent) and a history class. However, I only got to take Humanities 1 because I transferred to a school back home in Memphis (C.B.U.) which only required English and History, and the humanities courses counted towards a history class.

The only class I had dealt with reading about the Greek Philosophers (such as Plato, etc), and analysis of sculpture, columns, mythology, and similar work. It was one of the most difficult classes I've taken. There were so many details to remember for my exams, and the best i could do was a c+. The professor I had seemed to be more interested in phrasing her lectures as close to perfection as she could, but didn't really explain why humanities was important (in a 'plain-English' way if you will).

In the end, I believe the point of the class was to take a certain amount of respect from these ancient greek and roman societies (and their way of thinking) had on modern civilizaition. But at the same time, I have not had to look at another column, another slide lecture, or another play since, and I feel i've turned out just fine without Humanities 2. (I'm not sure, even, what humanities 2 would have been). I managed to get through Business writing, American Literature and a couple of religion classes. And I feel like I've got what I 'needed' to function as a graduate.

But just today, someone at work asked me if I took Humanities, and I told her just one semester, not two. She seemed to think I was missing out on something...

So the debate question I pose:
Should study of the Humanities be mandatory?

Well, some people learn things to put them to use (IE: Going to business school if they want to run a business, or acting school, or some other specialty department). Others learn knowledge just for the sake of it- and that sounds like what having Humanities (as a class) as mandatory class is.

Personally, i think it dont think it should be- not because I dont like it (I'd love to take humanities/philosophy)- but for those that dont like it. It would be great if as many people as possible would take it- but again, I dont think it should be mandatory. Sure, it would enlighten people, and you're learning about...life and humans and whatnot... but some people just wont be interested and will put no use to it. Some people like to know things just to know things- other people want to know only what will help their future/careers. Both can turn out to be just as successful as the other.

The greeks were probably had more influence on Western thought and direction than any other society, so it couldn't hurt to know a thing or two about them. However, knowing a bunch 'stuff' about these societies isn't going to serve much of any practical purpose in the overall scheme of your life. So if you don't want to take classes like this, you probably shouldn't have to. The problem is that nobody would take the classes and hence, a part of history would be lost. And your average history department can't have that, now can they?

I agree with El Cid. As important as philosophy is on society as a whole, learning about it isn't going to help you a whole lot as an individual. And like Nemo said, there's gonna be many people that just don't give a rat's ass about the subject. I think philosophy should be touched on in social studies and history, and that humanities and phhilosophy should be available as an elective class. But I don't think it should be made mandatory.

ps. In my province, the only mandatory class in grade 12 is English. You'll need a certain amount of credits to graduate, but no other class is actually mandatory for you to take.

As important as philosophy is on society as a whole, learning about it isn't going to help you a whole lot as an individual.
Nothing in life is more important than philosophy. Before you run off screaming "Nerd!", let me explain. Philosophy is the underlying ideas that form our views on the world. Even if you've never taken a single philosophy class or read a single philosophy book in your life, you still have a philosophy. What you consider to be right or wrong, what's real and what isn't, political ideas, etc.; these are all what forms your philosophy, even if you don't have a formal education in it. Formal education in humanities, especially philosophy, helps one to have a more integrated philosophic picture, and hopefully a more rational one(although a modern philosophy course is more likely to try to make you believe nothing is real). Even studying scuplture and art is aesthetics, which is a branch of a well rounded philosophy. So that is why philosophy will help you as an individual.
So the debate question I pose:
Should study of the Humanities be mandatory?
No. If people want to have unintegrated ideas and hypocritical ideas, let them. You get what you deserve. I would think that most people would be interested in ideas and thought though.

Nothing in life is more important than philosophy. Before you run off screaming "Nerd!", let me explain. Philosophy is the underlying ideas that form our views on the world. Even if you've never taken a single philosophy class or read a single philosophy book in your life, you still have a philosophy. What you consider to be right or wrong, what's real and what isn't, political ideas, etc.; these are all what forms your philosophy, even if you don't have a formal education in it. Formal education in humanities, especially philosophy, helps one to have a more integrated philosophic picture, and hopefully a more rational one(although a modern philosophy course is more likely to try to make you believe nothing is real). Even studying scuplture and art is aesthetics, which is a branch of a well rounded philosophy. So that is why philosophy will help you as an individual.
Which is why I said the subject should be introduced in social studies and perhaps history. But deeper philosophical studies aren't exactly as necessary to an individual as say, English. I mean, how many people know what Thomas Hobbes wrote about? How many can relate deep philisophical ideas to their owns lives? And lastly, how many people even care? In present day society, knowing all this usually doesn't make you any more successful than someone who doesn't even know who the heck Voltaire was. I believe philosophy is important, and it's interesting to study, but I don't think the 99% of the school who don't give a shit about the subject should have to learn it. You said so yourself, if people want to have unintergrated ideas, let them.

ps. Perhaps I was a bit unclear. When I said philosophy, I meant deep studies on social and political ideas, which is what a philosophy class would be. Not just basic ideas on human nature which we all live by. Now, how many people truly need to study that?

I go to school in the UK, so I guess everything is different. But for A level studies (16+ which is sixth form or college and sometimes offered to 15+) Ethics and Philosophy are the most popular subjects in my school. I can see how it would be really interesting but i don't think it would improve me as a person - how many people study philosophy and then go on to improve the world? How many then go on feeling smart because they know what some guy said 100 years ago explaining how we all exist or don't exist?

I'm skeptical but I like the idea of studying ethics, not for a future career though, just for myself. I can easily understand why someone would hate it - so many questions and no answers...kind of pointless (damn Shakespere just seems like learning the fancy words to describe the simplest things and that's just english lit :rolleyes: )...but I wouldn't know. It is as important as art or history, deep thinking can't be a bad thing. It should be compulsory to a certain degree so that there is at least a little everybody knows. Not the deep stuff unless it is necessary for a future career IMHO. Waste of time otherwise, to force ppl to take it.

I still think they would be taken by some ppl. If it had the right image (as I believe my school proves) it would still be popular.

LMN