Humanities Midterm lock in time

The meaning of the Humanities, including the various sub-disciplines within it, and its relationship to Liberal Arts

The Humanities is a field of study that explores the questions of what it is to be human in the abstract sense of the term

It's a Family of academic disciplines that include

-Philosophy, Religion, Visual arts, performing arts, language arts, and history

• Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

• Linguistic Intelligence – sensitivity to language, words, and writing

• Logical-Mathematical Intelligence – ability to analyze problems logically and carry out mathematical operations

• Spatial Intelligence – capacity to think in three dimensions and visualize spatial relationships

• Musical Intelligence – skill in performing, composing, and appreciating music

• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence – ability to use the body effectively for expression or problem-solving

• Interpersonal Intelligence – capacity to understand and interact effectively with others

• Intrapersonal Intelligence – deep understanding of oneself, emotions, and motivations

• Naturalistic Intelligence – ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals, and elements of the natural world

• Emerson, Goldman, Russell and Goodman's critiques of conventional schooling

• Ralph Waldo Emerson: Emerson criticized conventional schooling for stifling individual intuition and self-reliance, promoting conformity over personal growth.

• Emma Goldman: Goldman condemned traditional education as oppressive and authoritarian, designed to produce obedient workers rather than free-thinking individuals.

• Bertrand Russell: Russell argued that schools often prioritize rote memorization and obedience, discouraging critical inquiry and intellectual independence.

• Paul Goodman: Goodman viewed formal schooling as bureaucratic and alienating, failing to address real human needs or foster genuine community engagement.

• Einstein's view of what is most important in education, articulated in "Education for Independent Thought"

It is essential that the student acquire an understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good. Otherwise he-with his specialized knowledge- more closely resembles a well-trained dog than a harmoniously developed person. He must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings in order to acquire a proper relationship to individual fellow men and to the community.

Joanna Kadi's critique of the idea of "stupidity" and how she believes it functions in society

says that so much energy goes into the social lie that poor people are stupid; capitalism needs a basic rationalization to explain why things happen the way they do


-"So much energy goes into the social lie that poor people are stupid."
"I knew money and brains didn't
go hand in hand. But on deep unconscious levels,
I believed in my own stupidity and in the stupidity of working-class people."

• Meaning of "narrative imagination," as per Nussbaum

the capacity to understand the experiences and perspectives of others by engaging with their stories

Know Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony, why he believes all people are philosophers, and what we must recognize in order to achieve self-knowledge

Gramsci argued the path to enlightenment and freedom, begins with understanding how we have come to be the people we are today

hegemony is forged predominantly through culture: the repository and forger of our worldviews

Cultural Hegemony: the domination of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class who manipulate the culture of that society—the beliefs, explanations, perceptions, values, and mores—so that their imposed, ruling-class worldview becomes the accepted cultural norm;

• What Adrienne Rich means by "claiming an education," and why it's important for women in particular to claim theirs

a shift from passively receiving an education to actively taking ownership and responsibility for one's learning. It means demanding to be taken seriously by educators, seeking out challenges, and engaging in active intellectual discourse.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Maslow's view of the significance of character/morality (King) and values (Maslow) in education

King argued that the purpose of education was to "teach one to think intensively and to think critically" But King further asserted that efficient, rational thinking without appropriate attention to morality was an incomplete education

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Stuart Hall's understanding of culture and representation

Culture forms the basis of our understanding of virtually all we encounter in life

Culture is "a way in which we make sense of or give meaning to things of one sort or another. ....if we shared no concepts together with other folks, we literally could not make sense of the world today, we could not build a social world together, unless we were able to make sense of the world in, broadly speaking, the same ways."- Stuart Hall

representation is commonly understood as presenting, reflecting or "representing" something that was already there - Representing ideas, events, things - Re-presenting the meaning of an idea, event, or thing

Hall contends that human representations constitute or give a thing meaning - Meaning is not inherent to things but is actually bestowed upon or given through the act of human representation

Know the meaning of ethics, as per Anthony Weston, and how it differs from moral values

term "ethics" has a more critical, self-conscious edge, whereas moral values are concerned with a specific kind of values: those values that give voice to the needs and legitimate expectations of others as well as ourselves

The term "ethics" has a more critical, self-conscious edge compared to how Weston defines moral values

• Eduardo Galeano and bell hook’s views on imagination

Eduardo Galeano's view on imagination

"Although We cannot divine the world that will be. We can well imagine the one we would like there to be. The right to dream does not figure in the 30 human rights which the United Nations Proclaimed at the end of 1948. But if it were not for this, or for the waters it gives us to drink, the other rights would die of thirst." - Uruguayan author, Eduardo Galeano (1940-2015), "The Right To Dream".

bell hooks' understanding of the significance and meaning of imagination

we need imagination to illuminate those spaces not covered by data, facts, and proven information

• Kenneth Robinson's analysis of creativity -- what he believes it is and what he argues it is not

Ken Robinson defines creativity as the ability to generate original ideas that have value, and he argues that it is not just limited to a select few, but is an inherent human capacity that should be nurtured; he

• Rollo May's conception of creativity

Rollo May defines creativity as the act of courageously transforming inner passion and struggle into meaningful, original work that contributes to human understanding and experience.

• Know meaning of conceptual framework as per Karen Warren; and meaning of background belief (see critical thinking lecture)

• Conceptual Framework (Karen Warren):
  A conceptual framework, according to Karen Warren, is the set of basic beliefs, assumptions, and values that shape how we interpret and understand the world—it acts like a mental map through which all experiences and knowledge are filtered.

• Background Belief (Critical Thinking Lecture):
  A background belief is an underlying, often unexamined assumption that influences how we evaluate evidence, arguments, and new information—essentially, it’s a belief we accept without conscious thought that shapes our worldview.

Know key aspects or skills that comprise critical thinking according to the Critical Thinking Community in their piece,

Critical thinking can be seen as having two components: 1) a set of information and belief generating and processing skills, and 2) the habit, based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior. It is thus to be contrasted with: 1) the mere acquisition and retention of information alone, because it involves a particular way in which information is sought and treated; 2) the mere possession of a set of skills, because it involves the continual use of them; and 3) the mere use of those skills ("as an exercise") without acceptance of their results.

Three approaches to studying the humanities, as per Dr. Nall

1. History of humanity and culture: learning about key events, intellectual and artistic movements, and other valuable works in the development of human culture.

2. Wisdom and cultivation of humanity: examining the "great" creative and intellectual works to develop deeper insights into how we have come to believe and be as we presently are, but also to use these works to nourish our humanity and grow wiser.

3. Social construction of power: Critically examining the influence revere trends, movements, creative and intellectual works have shaped contemporary culture and its power relations

The value of art according to School of Life

1) It keeps us hopeful

2) It makes us less lonely

3) It re-balances us

4) It helps us to appreciate things

5) It is propaganda for what really matters

The value of history according to the School of Life

1) It provides us with solutions to many problems of the present

2) It's full of good ideas

3) It teaches us that things can change

4) It can teach us courage

The value of philosophy according to the School of Life

1) It helps us ask big questions

2) It helps us use common sense

3) It helps us be less confused

4) It helps us know ourselves better

Benton and DiYanni's discussion of the various aspects of the humanities including art (for example, how does color play a role in painting; varied uses of art throughout history)

• The humanities represent the most significant and vital of human accomplishments.

• They reflect our achievements from the beginning of human life in prehistory.

• Included are the most important developments in the history of civilization:

  • Various forms of art:

    • Painting

    • Sculpture

    • Architecture

  • The emergence of:

    • Literature

    • Drama

    • Music

  • The creation of:

    • Philosophies

    • Religions (that have shaped the thoughts and actions of countless people worldwide)

  • The historical study of these occurrences

In what ways can we "actively engage" or participate in the humanities, according to Richard Jewell

-See a play, concert, or dance.

-Attend an art or sculpture exhibition.

-Go to an historical museum.

-Describe one's own philosophy of life.

-Create a work of art.

-Study the basis of other world religions.

-Experience a foreign culture for a day.

-Write about such experiences before and after.

-Discuss such experiences with each other.

In what ways do we experience the humanities, as per Benton and DiYanni?

Art and architercture, literature and history, philosophy and religion, film and photography, theater and music and dance

·       Know why why the arts and humanities deserve public or governmental support, as per the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965

• Democracy demands wisdom and vision, which the humanities help cultivate.

• Arts and humanities preserve the nation’s cultural heritage and promote understanding of diverse cultures.

• They contribute to education, creativity, and critical thinking, which are essential for a thriving society.

• Supporting the arts and humanities enhances quality of life and encourages public engagement in cultural and intellectual life.

Why Alain de Botton's vision of an ideal humanistic education

is to cultivate emotional and intellectual resilience, encouraging individuals to lead more meaningful lives through the exploration of philosophy, art, and literature.

• Know Martha Nussbaum's argument in favor of the humanities and its relevance to moral decency and democracy

Martha Nussbaum argues that the humanities are vital for developing moral decency and democratic citizenship, as they foster empathy and critical thinking, enabling individuals to understand and engage with the complexities of human experience. Nussbaum asserts that studying the humanities nurtures compassion and promotes social responsibility within a democratic society.

• The difference between "having" and "being" as it relates to reading and learning, as per Erich Fromm

Erich Fromm distinguishes between "having" as an accumulation of material possessions and achievements, and "being" as a deeper existential experience of life.

Noam Chomsky’s view on reading

is that it should be an active process, where readers engage critically with texts rather than passively consume information. He believes this engagement enhances cognitive skills and fosters independent thinking.

Which author advocates that electronic books will degrade intellectual culture?

Noam Chomsky

Which person argues that humanities is not about success, but rather questioning what success is, and every important social value?

Mark Edmundson

Which person argues that humanities is about understanding how people are active creators of culture, and not just passive recipients of traditions?

David Behling

Which person advocates that the value of humanities is interpretation and critical thinking, backing up our claims with evidence?

Judith Butler

Who said that we are "pursuing the possessions that protect, please, and comfort us...But we seem to be forgetting about the soul"?

Martha Nussbaum

S.A. Dance view of humanities

emphasizes the importance of cultural expression, creativity, and the role of individuals in shaping their own experiences through art and social practices.

Meaning and components of critical thinking as per Dr. Nall including non-critical “default ways of thinking”

Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information in a logical manner, contrasting with non-critical thinking, which relies on unexamined habits and assumptions. Dr. Nall emphasizes the importance of questioning and reflecting on one's thought processes.

Reasons John Stuart Mill's defends freedom of expression

- Fallibility: Necessary consequence of

human fallibility is that the beliefs we hold

might be wrong and the ones we shun

might be right

- Partial truth: Views outside the prevailing opinion, even if they

are largely mistaken, may contain some truth or offer valuable

insight

- Dead dogma: Ideas that are not subjected to intense scrutiny

and challenge cease to be forcefully believed or understood or followed through a social obligation

What are primary and secondary sources?

Primary Sources: reports by those who were there

Secondary Sources: discussions of the reports

• Know how Dr. Nall characterizes argument and dialogue from the assigned reading, "Skip the Pleasantries..."

Dr. Nall characterizes argument as a structured exchange focused on asserting or defending a position, while dialogue is seen as a collaborative conversation aimed at mutual understanding and exploration of ideas, emphasizing respect and openness.

• Know the aspects of “doing philosophy” as per Robert Solomon and Sally Higgins: reflection, articulation, argument (justification), analysis, and synthesis; also know what a "buzz word" is, as they explain the idea

"Doing philosophy" involves reflecting on ideas, articulating thoughts clearly, constructing arguments with justifications, analyzing concepts rigorously, and synthesizing various viewpoints. A "buzz word" refers to a term or expression that is popular and often used in specific contexts, potentially oversimplifying complex ideas.

• Know what arguments, inferences, and fallacies are

Arguments are structured claims that support a conclusion through reasoning, inferences are logical conclusions drawn from premises, and fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the argument's validity.

Three theories of truth: correspondence, Coherence, and Pragmatic

-The correspondence theory of truth states that the theory of truth which holds a belief to true (false) if, and only if, it corresponds (does not correspond) to objective reality or fact

-Coherence theory of truth holds a belief to be true if it harmonizes (coheres) with larger body of beliefs or other facts that have already been accepted as true

-A pragmatic theory of truth states: A belief is true if it works and can be put to use

Who said that historians tended to emphasize the heroism of Columbus and deemphasized their destruction of innocent human life?

Howard Zinn

What does Elliot D. Cohen say philosophy is?

A "thinking" activity

Meaning and significance of conceptual frameworks

Network of concepts -values, attitudes, beliefs- that form an interpretive lens through which we see and understand the world

Know the meaning of philosophy and Ph.D.

1. Meaning of Philosophy

-love of wisdom

-A thinking activity involving the search for the

truth about the world and our place in it

-Critical evaluation of human thought and

concepts

-A discipline that facilitates the critical evaluation

of human thought and fundamental concepts are (Truth, God, Freedom, Beauty, Right.Wrong__

- Involves attempting to coordinate your ideas

into a coherent, consistent worldview or

conceptual framework

2. Ph.D. is doctor of philosophy

According to Solomon, what role does philosophy play in shaping our conceptual framework?

Solomon states that with philosophy it becomes clear about what we believe and why we believe it.

According to Robert Solomon, what is an example of critically and/or creatively examining your ideas and comparing them with other's ideas?

Reflection

According to Robert Solomon, what is an example of putting your ideas in clear, concise, readily understandable language?

Articulation

According to Robert Solomon, what is an example of supporting your ideas with reasons from other ideas, principles, and observations to establish your conclusion and overcome objections?

Argument

According to Robert Solomon, what is an example of understanding an idea by distinguishing and clarifying its various components?

Analysis

According to Robert Solomon, what is an example of gathering together different ideas into a single, unified vision?

Synthesis

What is applied philosophy?

The study of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning.

What are the two ways in which philosophy can be applied to solve problems?

1.Utilizing philosophy's basic thinking activities—as reflection, articulation, analysis, and clarification—in

order to solve or facilitate the solving of a practical

problem

2.Applying the theories of philosophy to solve

problems

Know the basics of Socrates' allegory of the cave

•The prisoners of the cave mistakenly believe that the truth is nothing other than the shadows

•For Plato and Socrates, the allegory of the cave

aims to help us understand how mistaken ideas

can produce

-Misinterpretations of our experiences, and

-False beliefs about the world

•Plato and Socrates believe that many of us are

like these prisoners-slaves to misconceptions of the world that lead to false beliefs

What is Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony?

Culturally diverse society can be ruled by one of its social classes

Key points made by Plato on education

-Children are significantly shaped by early experience and

education (377b)

-Children are often told stories that promote visions of life that "shape" their "souls" (377c) and are "hard to erase and apt to become unalterable" (378d)

-Consequently, storytellers must be supervised (377c) to ensure wrongdoing and inharmonious behavior is not normalized or glamorized (378a-c)

-And "god must always be represented as he is" "good"

Who said forced bodily labor does no harm to the body, but nothing taught by force stays in the soul?

Socrates, via Plato in the Republic

What is Plato's myth of the metals?

According to this 'myth of the metals', every citizen is born out of the earth of the State and every other citizen is his brother or sister. Yet God has framed them differently, mixing different metals into their soul: gold for the rulers, silver for the auxiliaries, and brass or iron for the husbandmen and craftsmen

Meaning of culture as per Stephen Duncombe

Both the culture we enjoy and the culture in which we live provide us with ideas of how things are and how they should be, frameworks through which to interpret reality and possibility. they help us account for the past, make sense of the present and dream of the future. Culture can be, and is, used as a means of social control. more effective than any army is a shared conception that the way things are is the way things should be... In order to strive for change, you have first to imagine it, and culture is the repository of imagination.

Who said the meaning of cultural studies is to investigate how humans have produced meaning in the past and continue to do so, reflecting critically to these productions, and learning relevant perspectives and meaningful interpretations that contribute to responsible engagement with the many different cultural expressions we encounter today?

UCF

Who said cultural studies is an innovative interdisciplinary field of research and teaching that investigates the ways in which "culture" creates and transforms individual experiences, everyday life, social relations and power?

UNC

Catharsis and entertainment violence according to Sissela Bok

Catharsis Theory:

viewing violence gives people emotional release from negative feelings such as pity, fear, and anger - expressing anger or getting out one's aggression produces a healthy release of emotion and reduces aggression

How does color play a role in painting?

It affects mood

Meaning of critical thinking as per Dr. Nall

•A method of thinking that emphasizes

reflective, open minded, and rational analysis

•Deliberately, fair-mindedly and open-mindedly

examining and evaluating concepts, beliefs,

statements of fact, and argument

Branches of Philosophy

metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, logic

Logic

Deals with methods of good reasoning; two general divisions: deductive logic and inductive logic.

Epistemology

Study of knowledge

Axiology

Theory of value; includes ethical theory, social and political philosophy, and aesthetics

Carol Becker's view of art in relation to research

The work artists do is a type of research into the complexity of human concerns