[464 Professor's Eye] Humanities: The Foundation of Interdisciplinary Innovaition

   The non-major system was introduced to expand students’ rights to choose their major and to cultivate the skills necessary for the future society. While it has the advantage of strengthening students’ autonomy in selecting majors and providing diverse opportunities for academic exploration, numerous concerns are associated with it. Although the majors that students prefer reflect the trends and demands of the times, they do not ensure academic diversity. In the long term, if the non-major system expands, there is a high possibility that foundational disciplines, including the humanities, will face the risk of closure. The crisis in the humanities is not a new issue but rather an ongoing one. The concern is that educational policies, intentionally or unintentionally, could further diminish the humanities rather than revive them.

   Nowadays, students tend to avoid disciplines that do not yield immediate results or take time to demonstrate their value. For instance, at our university, courses like “Masterpiece Seminars” that involve reading classics have been unpopular among students due to the significant time and effort required. This has even led to a reduction in class hours by the university. While there may be several reasons, it reflects a failure to recognize the importance of reading, primarily classic literature, as the foundation of all academic pursuits. Even if its significance is acknowledged, its practical application has been weakened.

   So, why are the humanities important in modern society? First, because it contains the accumulated experiences of human life. Through indirect experiences, one can learn the wisdom of humanity and contemplate fundamental questions about what it means to be human and how to live. Such contemplation can be most effectively facilitated by reading classics, which offer an efficient way to gain profound insights into human life. Second, the humanities have become even more critical with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Without an understanding of the humanities, it is challenging to navigate this era of transformation. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not solely the product of advanced science and technology; it also requires a deep understanding of human nature. The foundation of this understanding lies in the humanities and its perspectives. It is widely recognized that without the humanities, there are limits to technological advancement. Third, the humanities, along with classical literature, serve as the primary source of imagination. Despite the advancements in AI, it is still difficult for it to surpass human imagination and creativity. Throughout history, humanity has built culture through imagination, producing countless novels, books, films, and scientific advancements.

   However, despite the importance and value of the humanities, universities are increasingly focusing their educational efforts on engineering policies. The non-major system, while promoting interdisciplinary studies, overlooks the significance of the humanities. Additionally, the allocation of national research funding to the humanities remains minimal. Despite being the foundation of all academic disciplines, the humanities continue to be described as “in crisis.” We must ask questions: Can humanity survive without the humanities? How much financial investment are universities making in their humanities or liberal arts departments? How much have professors emphasized the significance and value of the humanities?If students find reading classics difficult, should they only pursue easy studies?