Re: Are humanities courses important?

[rsd@sei.cmu.edu (Richard D'Ippolito)]

In article <EACHUS.91Jul5220324@largo.mitre.org> Robert I. Eachus writes:

 >      I have found that there are two cultures: those who will tackle
 > disciplines.  The fact that some younger members of the more eclectic
 > group prefer heavy metal to Bach does not require lots of eclectives
 > in the humanities, it just requires time.  They will go out and learn
 > it (whatever it is) on their own later.

You have a heck of a lot more faith in culture by osmosis and self-education th
an I do!  How will you know what you don't know?


 >      The idea that it is possible to get a "well rounded" education
 > today without courses in math, physics, and computer science is
 > ridiculous.  The idea that it is impossible to get a decent education
 > without a sufficient set of humanities electives is job security for
 > certain members of the faculty, nothing else.

I suppose that we could discuss this for a long time.  Let me keep it 
short -- I think that you're so far off base concerning what it takes to 
be educated that I haven't the vaguest idea where to start, except to 
recommend Samuel Florman's books on engineering.  Your expressed philosophy wil
l produce nothing but efficient lobotomized technocrats.  The opposite, humanit
ies and arts without engineering, produces castrated dreamers.


Rich



Good taste is timeless.
Why is a good time often tasteless?