The Necessity of Humanities

The humanities at university is currently on the edge of the abyss. The crises such as merger of related departments, abolishing lectures, and reduction of an entrance quota are coming. For the employment rate occupying an important criterion for the university assessment, most universities are reducing curriculums of humanities, which are comparatively unhelpful in a job market. For example they are merging the department of humanities with college of administration. Prospective

college students are increasingly avoiding humanities at all these days when employment rate is a top priority in university admission. To develop competitiveness, the universities have an unavoidable choice.

The humanities are the foundation of the entire discipline as the study of people. And that teaching the men how to live humanly is the humanities. Besides, it is indispensable disciplines especially in the cradle of intellectual.

Interestingly, CEOs of world-famous company did not neglect the humanities. Former Apple CEO the late Steve Jobs said the humanities formed the basis of creativity. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that his business began and grew through the humanities. In Korea, Jung Yong-jin, the vice president of SHINSEGAE is taking the lead in diffusion of the humanities by means of lectures. In other words, socially successful people place a high value on the humanities.

The various corporations have already asked applicants about knowledge of the humanities during interviews. “Write the countries which invaded the Joseon at blossom time chronologically.” “After listing the medieval philosophers, add a period of activity and place them in order. Through the development process of the Mongolia and the Roman Empire, what are the implications valuable to our company? Among the Korea’s great people, select and describe historical figures who were historically underrated by the situation at that time. The previous two were on the SSAT (SamSung Aptitude Test), the latter two were on the HMAT (Hyundai Motor group Aptitude Test). The public officials are no exception. Recently, in education for the people who will be promoted, reading recommended books in humanities were involved. Thus, the country and corporations regard the humanities as important.

Moreover, we can’t leave out the humanities in the general public. These days lecture of the citizens is very common. The humanities Week, experience program, lecture, concert, forum, seminar, even and a Humanistic City business is pushing ahead in the country. The example is the Kunsan’s Humanistic City support project in progress by the help of KNU’s humanistic city center. Its’ goal is to construct the Kunsan to a humanistic city filled with a sense of humanities and liberal humanity.

By the way, why the humanities are emphasized in the society? First, let’s see this phenomenon from the standpoint of the corporations. The late Steve Jobs said it is more important not to change the world by technical improvement but to grasp consumer needs. Because we can hardly make more creative product than now without caring about the humanities. So they prefer applicants be cultivated in the humanities. Our society is being blinded by capitalism and materialism. Next, from the standpoint of the general public. The presence of the other person is being effaced by the capitalism commercializing everything. In the society where everyone can't be happy by the money, most citizens will struggle to protect the priceless thing. Such as humanity, conscience, human love, neighborhood, etc.

The humanities are considered important in the society rather than the university. So that is the regrettable and contradictory reality. Under these circumstances, where do students go from here? The simple answer is that you must have interest in the humanities and cultivate an ability of humanities. As long as the university is bound by the employment rate, you should make an effort by yourself. Only that you would give up before starting, it should be not difficult. You can find a lot of useful tools around us. Let me introduce the way which is basic and easy to do it.

The key to grow is reading. It is to read books of literature, history, philosophy, art, economy and politics. You should do your own thinking after reading. Organize your thoughts and apply to the society or discuss with others. Although there is no book, you can use newspaper editorials, columns, etc. It will widen your range of thought. The point is to think and share each other’s thoughts rather than knowledge acquisition. This way, you will be able to think creatively

The humanities is not treated as just a boring and less important thing Right now. It is big part of the society. Maybe, the university would make an unattractive decision. However, there is certainly a reason that we shouldn’t neglect the humanities. Especially I hope the university students revive the meaning of this article.