[1. What is meant by the 'humanities' 2. Place in modern education. 3. Its importance, 4. Is anything to be guarded against?]
The term 'humanities' was used in the mediaeval universities of Europe to indicate the study of the classical Greek and Latin languages and literature. It comprised the secular side of education as distinguished from the theological side — Divinity and the Humanities being the two main faculties in a medieval university. It was in France that the humanities were formally recognized. This meant perhaps to suggest an aloofness from the sciences.
The 'humanities' as distinguished from Science relate to physical aspects of things; their bias was utilitarian. But the humanities fostered the humane qualities and thus contributed to the growth of the total personality of man. Hence the humanities are more or less synonymous with liberal education — education that liberalizes or broadens the mind of man. It is true that in the more modern universities, the study of the sciences is given a larger scope. Hence even in the large Technological Universities of today arrangements are made to initiate the students in the basic humanities which are taken to be literature, philosophy, logic and history. At any rate, 'the study of the humanities is today considered an essential part of real education.
Certainly familiarity with the great masters of human thought and expression has a sort of inspiring or uplifting influence. It widens the mental horizon, invigorates the capacity to think. A mind so trained is more efficient and capable of tackling human problems. Study of the humanities has also the effect of refining manners, cultivating tastes. The mere mechanics is a poor thing, said Johnson. The humanities are the proper correctives of both the commercial and matter-of-fact attitude.
Exclusive or excessive preoccupation with humanitarian studies may make man a dreamer and a visionary, and he may thus loosen his grip on the ground realities of life. After all, in the modern world no man can ignore the basic factors of life which depend on the knowledge of science.
Hence in any proper scheme of education, while emphasis must be laid on science, technology and the vocational subjects, room must be found for the humanities. The ultimate aim of education is to create a balanced personality, to ensure a harmonious development of all faculties. This can be done only if the mental, intellectual, moral and Physical faculties e developed harmoniously.
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