“We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide the future.”
From philosophy, history and literature to music, art, sociology and psychology, humanities is as it sounds: the study of what makes us human. Humanities is difficult to quantify, which is precisely why it is important than ever. Humanities is the keystone of all civilizations. We are nothing more than a collection of unconnected dots if not for humanities.
WHY IS HUMANITIES IMPORTANT ?
- Allows you to interpret the world in different ways- Humanities gives you permission to see the world through a different lens, while still understanding facts. It gives you a perspective. Your education in the humanities gives you the power to understand another perspective, even if you don’t agree with it. It encourages you to use reason, not emotion, to arrive at conclusions.
- Gives insight into everything– 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.
- Enables to understand the society- How can we try to understand society today without understanding what created it? Humanities gives us an opportunity to study history of a society and understand its roots.
- Helps you understand the impact of technology, science and medicine- By studying history, philosophy and literature, you can see how far technology, science and medicine have grown and how important they are in people’s lives.
“People who don’t know history are like leaves on a branch, who don’t know that they’re a part of a tree.”
In an article in The Atlantic, cultural critic Leon Wieseltier said, “What we need to do is recognise the limitations of that mentality.” He added, “The purpose of Humanities is not primarily utilitarian, it is not primarily to get a job. The purpose of humanities is to cultivate the individual, cultivate the citizen.”
CAREER OPTIONS
- Archaeology
- Civil Services
- Foreign Languages
- Journalism
- Law
- Mass Communication
- Psychology
- Public Relations
- Hospitality Management
- Interior Design
- Radio Jockey
- Teaching
- Sociology
…and many more.
Within the social sciences, one can learn about how resources are used by people and companies, which can lead to an understanding of how the economy might develop. Within Humanities, one can learn another language, which can open the window into a new culture, a new worldview.
“Humanities teaches us that we need to learn from the past, live in the present and conquer the future.”
Social Studies Department,
Seth Anandram Jaipuria School,
Kanpur