It is in books, poems, paintings which often give us the confidence to take seriously feelings in ourselves that we might otherwise never have thought to acknowledge.
Alain De BottonRead
The humanities have been forced to disguise, both from themselves and their students, why their subjects really matter, for the sake of attracting money and prestige in a world obsessed by the achievements of science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The humanities often downplay their significance to compete for funding and recognition in a science-driven society.
Alain De Botton suggests that the humanities have to alter their perception both internally and externally to highlight their relevance in a world that prioritizes scientific achievements. This shift is often undertaken to secure financial support and gain prestige, which highlights a societal tendency to value scientific contributions over those from the humanities.
Themes
HumanitiesEducationSciencePrestigeMoneySignificance
In practice
Example use cases
In a university lecture discussing the value of the humanities in today's job market.
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The more closely we analyze what we consider 'sexy,' the more clearly we will understand that eroticism is the feeling of excitement we experience at finding another human being who shares our values and our sense of the meaning of existence.
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Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own - but that we could never have described on our own.
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It is the most ambitious and driven among us who are the most sorely in need of having our reckless hopes dampened through immersive dousings in the darkness which religions have explored. This is a particular priority for secular Americans, perhaps the most anxious and disappointed people on earth, for their nation infuses them with the most extreme hopes about what they may be able to achieve in their working lives and relationships.
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