There has been a recent surge in interest in the humanities, with humanities books frequently appearing on bestseller lists. Despite being perceived as useless in the past, the importance of the humanities in the modern world and their practical value is increasingly recognized.
In the past few years, interest in the humanities has been on the rise, and humanities books have become a common sight on bookstore bestseller lists. This phenomenon is not just a passing fad, but a reassessment of the importance of the humanities in modern society. In particular, as the importance of the humanities has risen, self-help books that recommend reading the humanities have been published for various age groups, from elementary school students to adults. These books help modern people solve various problems in their daily lives and add depth to their lives. Self-development books related to the humanities, such as “Advertising with the Humanities,” “Humanities Now,” and “Humanities Meets Management in the Forest,” have become steady sellers.
Private lectures and EBS educational broadcasts also regularly organize humanities lectures, and humanities scholars are increasingly becoming star lecturers. This craze for the humanities has spilled over into the job market, with Samsung Group’s SSAT expanding the number of history questions, and Hyundai Motor Group expanding its scope from Korean history to Roman and Mongolian history. POSCO gives preference to those who have certifications in Korean history, and the financial sector is selecting people with humanistic aptitudes through methods such as reading interviews. Humanistic knowledge and mindsets have gone beyond the realm of academia, and are now playing an important role in society and the economy as a whole.
Why have the humanities, which are often treated as ‘faddish’, become so popular? It’s not just a trend, but a fundamental understanding of humanity and creative thinking that is essential in modern society. In a world of rapid technological advancement, people have a growing desire to explore human nature and values.
Are the humanities obsolete? If we divide the humanities into pure and applied disciplines, the humanities are pure disciplines that study human beings, i.e., abstract concepts. If you think of applied studies as those that answer questions about concepts and create them in practice, you might think that the humanities are really useless when it comes to making a living. In the midst of entrance examination competition and job competition, most people have the perception that reading a few lines of the Analects or a few lines of Mencius will not improve their grade or create a specification. It is jokingly said that “if you want to major in humanities or philosophy and get a legitimate job, go to ancient Greece”. In a society where technology is valued over the arts, the government is increasing funding for universities that adjust their enrollment based on industry demand, and universities are cutting back on humanities majors in response.
However, the humanities shouldn’t be devalued because they aren’t necessarily practical. On the contrary, the humanities explore the essence of humanity, which allows for deeper thinking and creative ideas. The more rapidly technology changes, the more valuable human emotions, ethics, and philosophical thought become. After all, human beings are at the center of everything we create.
There is no future for a country that neglects the humanities! Amidst the crisis in the humanities, there are growing voices around the world calling for the importance of the humanities. In 2001, an academic conference was held in Japan under the theme of “The Role and Importance of Humanities and Social Sciences in the 21st Century. “The lack of balance in the research environment due to the fact that the concept of science and technology is biased toward the natural sciences is likely to hinder the creative development of the humanities and social sciences and negatively affect the development of the natural sciences. The humanities and social sciences not only play a complementary role to the natural sciences, but also have the potential to make their own contributions to science and technology by using different ideas and methods than the natural sciences.” As such, the indispensability of the humanities was discussed earlier. In addition, there is a movement in Europe and North America to emphasize the importance of humanities education. For example, many universities in the United States are strengthening their liberal arts programs to provide students with a broader perspective, which is having a positive impact on society as a whole.
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, also spoke about the importance of the humanities, saying “The liberal arts reading program I was exposed to at Reed College, from Plato and Homer to Kafka, is what built Apple. The secret to our creative products is that we’ve always wanted to be at the intersection of technology and academia.” The humanities are more than just an academic discipline, they are a source of creativity, and they are at their best when fused with technology.
Conclusion Perhaps modern people who are tired of the mechanical world are turning to the humanities as a way to explore themselves and take a mental break. The humanities, including history, philosophy, culture, and thought, explore the most essential parts of humanity and the areas closest to real life that humans have created. The humanities are perhaps the most useful disciplines because they explore humans and the world we make. Sure, a machine can draw a picture better than a human. But the imagination and creative abilities of the artist are uniquely human and cannot be matched by a machine. Diverse perspectives come from the humanities. It is the power of the humanities to create a citizenry that is tolerant of different perspectives and has a diverse range of views. The humanities also provide us with the insights we need to reflect on our lives today and prepare for the future. It’s more than just knowledge, it’s an important part of shaping the way we move forward. Humanistic thinking can also be an important nourishment for the development of technology and economics, and is essential for the realization of a human-centered society.
