increasingly high-tech lives

Why studying the humanities is important in our increasingly high-tech lives

Written by Victoria de Angelis

For better or for worse, individuals are the masters of their own destiny. A key part of curating our identities (and thus our destinies) is deciding upon a career, often governed by one’s virtues, experiences, interests, and plain luck. However, for youths today there are many other factors to consider. Generally, in college, a student chooses one of two paths: STEM, shorthand for science, technology, engineering, and math, or the liberal arts. As our everyday lives persistently intertwine with technology, the former is emphasized by politicians, parents, and professionals over the latter in picking a career deemed to be stable. A student may feel that a degree in the humanities is desirable, but too often choose the more “reasonable” option in STEM fields. There is a fundamental misconception of the virtues of a humanities degree its function in the modern job market. In fact, this remarkable time in human history is when we need humanities the most.

This misinformed perception of the humanities refutes the dialectical discourse encompassing eros and logos, insisting that the opposing forces are simply at odds. In reality, they frequently go handin-hand as the pursuance of desire and reason has resulted in remarkable innovation across the ages. So why would society now discourage education in the humanities and disrupt this synergy?

During the twentieth century, programs offered by higher education institutions more or less yielded a corresponding career. If you wanted to work in business, you simply studied business. Today, requirements for jobs are much more demanding, and a degree doesn’t promise a job interview. In fact, many people in the workforce report being in a field vaguely or not at all related to the degree they studied in college. However, this tends to be the case more often for students studying the humanities than STEM, as the complex knowledge gained from STEM degrees is seen as more readily applicable. And because so much is being invested in technological innovation, these jobs are also generally more lucrative.

Since college is a sizable investment and there is a lack of clear correlation between major and career when studying the humanities, it has been dismissed as a waste of time and money, as a hobby young minds could teach themselves in their free time. In a BBC article by Amanda Ruggeri, she states, “...our assumption about the market value of certain degrees – and the ‘worthlessness’ of others – might be off. At best, that could be making some students unnecessarily stressed. At worst? Pushing people onto paths that set them up for less fulfilling lives.”

A degree in the humanities beholds much more merit than given credit for. A student is taught to read between the lines, to not take something at face-value as there’s always a hidden intention or additional interpretation. In absorbing and analyzing renowned works of art, literature, music, philosophy, etc., the student learns to decode a curator’s message, understand their perspective, and ultimately the complexities of humanity. The key skill of critical thinking is acquired. From there, the student is able to observe the world critically and logically as well as think about complex history from a moral standpoint. This, as a society, is what we are striving for today. As we embrace diversity, diplomacy, and reflection, the humanities prove to be more relevant than ever, not only in the workforce, but in our everyday lives. Illustation by Aron Aguilera

In an age of rapid technological innovation, the need to adapt has become increasingly apparent for companies and businesses. Many have adopted online forms of service for greater accessibility, convenience, and outreach. The STEM majors are likely the ones to implement these systems. In considering the knowledge gained by those in STEM versus students of the humanities, which group is more likely to identify this online medium in the first place? In his novel, You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Education, George Anders states, “The more we automate the routine stuff, the more we create a constant low-level hum of digital connectivity, the more we get tangled up in the vastness and blind spots of big data, the more essential it is to bring human judgment into the junctions of our digital lives.” With this being said, the answer to the aforementioned inquiry could be a humanities major. In fact, a new area of scholarly activity revolves around the field of digital humanities, which considers the systematic use of digital resources in the humanities and vice versa. Here is where the transferable skills gained in a liberal arts degree are used most efficiently. Those who study humanities are trained to assess human needs and problems, which technology can fix. Considering how rapidly the world is changing, the job market related to when current college students are at the career level is inconceivable, and thus the notion that the humanities yield poor job opportunities is outdated.