Societal Foundation Eroding: An Examination of the Crumbling Pillars of Humanity
The Enduring Significance of Literature and Humanities in Modern Society
Literature and humanities have played a pivotal role in shaping and understanding societal culture and the evolution of knowledge throughout history. As emphasized by Linda Gregerson, the Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, these disciplines are crucial for exercising empathy and emotion, and for understanding multiple perspectives.
Exploring Human Communication and Creativity
Humanities help us explore human communication and creativity through language and literature, shaping our thoughts, social development, and cultural expressions. By understanding human experiences and identities, societies can evolve culturally and socially. This intellectual tradition dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where a rational inquiry into human nature, morality, and society began.
Critical Reflection on Social Order and Change
The humanities also contribute to critical reflection on social order and change. For instance, 19th-century social thought responded to major disruptions like the French and Industrial Revolutions by trying to make sense of shifting social structures, values, and identities. This demonstrates how literature and related disciplines help societies interpret and adapt to transformative historical events.
Education and the Humanities
In education, literature and humanities develop skills of critical thinking, perspective-taking, and civic engagement by examining history, identity, culture, and storytelling. This fosters informed participation in communities and enhances understanding of the continuity and contradictions within cultural and historical narratives.
Bridging the Two Cultures Divide
Moreover, the humanities provide essential context for understanding the “two cultures” divide identified by C.P. Snow: the split between scientific and humanistic knowledge. Literature and humanities equip societies with interpretative frameworks and ethical insight that complement scientific advances, thus nurturing a more holistic understanding of knowledge evolution and societal progress.
The Decline of Humanities Studies
Despite their importance, the number of students graduating with a major in the humanities has fallen for the ninth straight year. This decline is often due to the focus on technology and practical fields, such as S.T.E.M. However, understanding types of literature is necessary for gaining a comprehensive understanding of change in data and the long-term evolution of one's hypothesis in S.T.E.M. fields, as Jadyn Sinclair '25 expressed.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Some colleges and schools are integrating humanities with S.T.E.M. fields through interdisciplinary collaboration and program creation. For example, the Bronx High School of Science is implementing a new Advanced Placement English Literature class focused on "science, medicine, and literature" for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Cultural Erasure and Preservation
The burning of the Hanlin Library was an intentional act of cultural erasure, highlighting the importance of preserving and studying literature and humanities. On the other hand, stories like those of Nora Gupta evoke a sense of nostalgia and are a living testament to cultural heritage.
The Future of Humanities
As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, the ability to replicate and understand a voice is becoming a dying skill. However, the imagination is interlinked with the real world through the study of humanities, offering a distinct perspective that only humanities and literary studies can provide. By fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a holistic understanding of knowledge evolution, literature and humanities will continue to be fundamental in shaping our society, allowing us to comprehend our past, negotiate our present, and envision our future.
- Literature and humanities help us understand societal culture and the evolution of knowledge throughout history.
- In education, literature and humanities develop skills of critical thinking, perspective-taking, and civic engagement by examining history, identity, culture, and storytelling.
- The humanities provide essential context for understanding the "two cultures" divide identified by C.P. Snow: the split between scientific and humanistic knowledge.
- By fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a holistic understanding of knowledge evolution, literature and humanities will continue to be fundamental in shaping our society, allowing us to comprehend our past, negotiate our present, and envision our future.
