ipl-logo

Summary Of The Economic Case For Saving The Humanities By Christina H. Paxson

846 Words4 Pages

Christina H. Paxson published the essay “The Economic Case for Saving the Humanities” on August 20, 2013, in the New Republic. Christina H. Paxson is currently the president of Brown University. She earned her graduate degrees in economics at Columbia university and previously graduated in the 1982 honors class of Swarthmore College. Paxson’s studies lead her to touch on the economic side of whether to or not to study the humanities. Paxson starts her argument with a necessary disclaimer explaining the complexity of defending the humanities. She explains that it is not obvious that the humanities are directly related to occupations we deem necessary today but claims that they most definitely are related. Paxson’s third paragraph pulls in …show more content…

Those with extensive knowledge of the Arabic language and history became a necessity to make sense of the attacks. Paxson’s third point in paragraph 15. She argues that because the pace of learning is getting faster and faster that the humanities will keep us grounded and remind us of our values. Her conclusion references a writing by Alexis de Tocqueville about his trip to the United States in the early 1830s. Paxson says the Alexis stresses the importance in communication and diversity of knowledge. After reading this essay extensively, I can say that I agree with Paxson, simply because I am bias to the arts. I grew up with a cousin publishing three books before the age of eighteen, a mother who could spend days in the theatre, and a father who relieves stress by strumming his guitar. I myself have participated in theatre and choir. I have gained many skills from both theatre and choir that some would argue have nothing to do with either. In choir, math is required to keep rhythm and to know how beats to hold a note. While the math of theatre is much more behind the scenes it is crucial to having a successful and effective performance by creating the scenery that sets the tone of the

Show More
Related
958 Words | 4 Pages

1 Westinghouse Alexandra Westinghouse Professor ? Interdisciplinary Studies 101 ? February 2017 An Analysis of Gladwell?s ?

Read More
457 Words | 2 Pages

“America Needs its Nerds” Analysis Leonid Fridman’s use of irony, the rhetorical triangle, and rhetorical questions in his article “America Needs its Nerds” develops his argument that American society should be more accepting of intellectuals. His tone is critical of society’s values, which is seen through his use of phrases such as, “there is something very wrong with the system of values,” (1). Through his reference to Harvard University, a “prestigious academic institution” (11), he demonstrates that society tends to look down upon intellectuals by revealing that many students are “ashamed to admit” (13) the amount of time they spend on their studies. The fact that even at Harvard, a school known for its focus on intellectualism, students still perpetuate the anti-intellectualism stereotype shows the extent of the problem with the values of America’s current society.

Read More
198 Words | 1 Pages

Two children from Indonesia, Yoyo and Duku eight and ten years old have been mining for two years. These two children mine every day, with no childhood and no education. Yoyo mother believes that mining all these children will have in their future. Yoyo is only able to read few words, while Duku has never had an education. When asked Duku would he rather be in school than mining, he seems not to mind to be at school rather than mining.

Read More
821 Words | 4 Pages

Certain ideals that are valued in American society have caused concern in some people due to the alarming threat they pose. In the passage, “America Needs its Nerds,” by Leonid Fridman, the author discusses a social problem he sees that is prominent in the United States. Throughout the reading, Fridman mentions how often anti-intellectualism is seen and why it is our issue in America. Fridman’s purpose in writing this passage is to bring the issue to the minds of people and to make them question their own personal stance. Fridman uses different strategies in order to convey his idea that people who are curious and serious about knowledge should not be labeled a nerd.

Read More
1036 Words | 5 Pages

Nicholas Carr examines the relationship between not only the way we read but also the way we think and our increasing use of the Internet in his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”. Carr believes that the use of the Internet has hindered our ability to concentrate and examine literature. Carr’s article contains a significant amount of anecdotal evidence, as well as some scientific research, which he includes in an attempt to support his stance; however, in my assessment the evidence Carr presents is ineffective in supporting his assertions. I will examine the flaws within Carr’s article, as well as the evidence utilized by Carr and evaluate the validity of his argument. Additionally, I will discuss research findings relevant to the subject matter to support my viewpoint that the Internet does not threaten our ability to narrow our focus and delve into a piece of literature.

Read More
580 Words | 3 Pages

My own experience in the arts has shown me that arts is important to a child’s education. The arts has helped me grow as a person in multiple ways. Arts has helped me build a creative side, which

Read More
937 Words | 4 Pages

In her book entitled „Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities” , Martha Nussbaum deals with topics regarding education all over the world but her main focus is on the United States and India, places that she has better knowledge of. For that reason, her main thesis is that by declining the study of the humanities the world can end up with some „useful profit makers rather than thoughtful citizens.” (142) Even though people want to replace the arts education and humanities with technology or technology education, Nussbaum does not say that the arts and humanities are neglected by individuals. She mostly thinks that they are somewhat feared because for example, humanities at the same time with art can heighten one’s creativity and imagination but as well as his or hers compassion.

Read More
282 Words | 2 Pages

Adley – Week 5 Reply to Mazzuca Quoth the banker! By Herbert S. Bailey, Jr. Herbert S. Bailey, Jr. (1921-2011), was a renowned director of the Princeton University Press for 32 years, editor, and academic. As a book publisher, he notably championed acid-free paper, “digital book delivery,” and financial assistance for scholarly works. Under his helm, the Princeton University Press published the collected writings of Woodrow Wilson, Henry D. Thoreau, and Albert Einstein.

Read More
1016 Words | 5 Pages

The Arising Effects of a Consumerist Society In the article “On the Uses of Liberal Education,” written in 1997 by Mark Edmundson he argues how colleges are getting into the consumer habit of overspending on goods. Instead of the money being invested to the liberal arts, a vast amount is spent on the consumer lifestyle. In today 's day and age, it is typical for people to be a part of the big consumerist society. Over time, consumerism has arose throughout the nation, and some more than others. Since the roaring twenties, the United States has progressively steadfast to the consumer lifestyle.

Read More
682 Words | 3 Pages

When people think of artists, specifically choir, they think of talent, creativity, and cooperation. When people think of athletes, in particular, football, they think of strength, manliness, and endurance. Football and choir seem like they are as different as night and day. First of all, they are executed in completely different ways. Choir requires singing, reading music, memorizing pieces of music, and learning harmonies.

Read More
293 Words | 2 Pages

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous speech, “The American Scholar,” Emerson proposes the provocative argument that in order for one to be a great thinker and not just be a mere mocker of societies words, one can not worship nor be inspired by another one’s own words. As someone who loves and moreover finds purpose through music, reading as well as processing such an argument against what I believe in is quite disheartening. Whilst describing his ideal characteristics of a scholar as well as just the average joe, Emerson explains, “One must be an inventor to read well” (9 Emerson). Words alone can not do much, it takes an intelligent mind as well as an “inventor” to make something of these phrases presented to us. It takes a different kind of scholar

Read More
823 Words | 4 Pages

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything” (Plato). If my childhood was filled with anything: it was imagination. From my earliest memories of my cousin, and I putting on a sold out concert on my papaw’s front porch; to putting my baby dolls to sleep with lullabies. Music has always been a big part of my life: it was the one thing I could always count on, no matter where I went; and that still stands true today.

Read More
896 Words | 4 Pages

These are large pieces of information that show that involvement in the arts can help with far more than just reading music or singing. Another very reliable source, the Department of Education, has also noticed this. “Studies conducted by the DOE [Department of Education] have found a positive correlation between arts involvement and success in other subjects such as mathematics, science, and literature” (Flynn). Clearly, arts have an impact on students, their core education, and even the student’s

Read More
772 Words | 4 Pages

At a young age, I constantly wanted to express myself through music. I always found a way to incorporate music into my daily life, whether it be by blasting my favorite music, creating my own funky songs, or even having the opportunity to participate in my elementary school choir. My love for music actually took flight after I had decided to join my elementary school choir, however, in my opinion, it is not the most transformative moment in my life. After elementary

Read More
850 Words | 4 Pages

The arts in education can impact a person 's success in education. “A well-rounded educational experience that includes the arts is closely linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity” (Velasco). Adding fine arts into the educational experience has strong benefits in and outside of the classroom. Studying the lyrics of music can teach students about syllabification, phonics, vocabulary, imagery, history, myths, folktales, geography, and culture.

Read More

More about Summary Of The Economic Case For Saving The Humanities By Christina H. Paxson

Related Topics

Open Document