The Endangered Humanities

An article in the New York Times discusses the sad state of the humanities in higher education these days. The number of students majoring in literature, history, the arts, and philosophy has been dropping since the mid-sixties, apparently because students and their parents perceive the study of the humanities as a luxury, and not a practical choice for a career-minded student. This seems odd, considering the fact that most of the lawyers I know, for example, majored in English. Defenders of the humanities point out the importance of critical thinking and a grounding in ethics for people in all lines of work. Maybe that's what's been missing lately on Wall Street.