Humanities is to study of human culture in all forms. For example: ethical

-pursuing knowledge for the sake of knowledge

-creating informed and critical citizens

It helps citizens critically analyze the society they live in

 

Nussbaum "Education for citizenship in an Era of Global Connection"

1. Socrates motivated the youth to think critically (the Socratic method)

2. Ability to think as a citizen of the whole world, not just local region or group

3. "Narrative Imagination": ability to imagine what it would be like in the position of someone very much different from one self

-humanities education values doubt over certainty questioning authorities, norms and dominant structures of power in our society

Empirical Sciences vs. Humanities

empirical sciences: quantifiable aspects of the universe

-answers to specific set questions

Humanities as a method of interrogation

theory

 

Humanities are mainly:

analytic: meticulous examination

-very carefully analyzing

critical: skepticism; to view the norms and/or assumptions as a problem

interpretive: explanation of meanings

evaluative: evaluating ideas or theories for their overall value or solidarity

*Empirical science show us what we should think about the world: KNOWABLE

*Humanities do NOT teach us what to think, but give us new ways to think: SPECULATIVE