The Humanities Debate - what we are missing

The debate going on in society, and among academics, about the value of humanities takes two positions in opposition: first, that humanities majors make less money, or at least have a harder time connecting their humanities education to a financially successful career, and so are unwise to pursue; and second, that the STEM studies are more practical in that they lead to making things or advancing practical forms of science, and are therefore more important than humanities.

I have two suggestions to add to the debate that seem to be missing.

On the first point, a study of the humanities makes us better citizens, so that our republic receives the wisdom of its citizens in the great issues of the day.  What could be more important than preserving and strengthening our American republic, the condition precedent to economic vigor AND the individual freedoms we all enjoy?  And, by the way, humanities studies contribute to our understanding of our culturally complex society, making us better parents, neighbors.

On the second point, the STEM disciplines surely lead to inventions, medical breakthroughs, all sorts of new devices.  But, it doesn't stop there.  Once we have created new stuff, we have to make decisions like how to use it, who gets it first, and deal with the ethical questions many will raise.  There is no mathematical formula or scientific algorithm that substitutes for the complex calculus of a decision on resources, ethics, proper use. Humanities and an appreciation of how people have behaved in the past will help guide these decisions.

In 25 years in business, I can recall very few decisions that were self-evident from data or analysis.  Almost always, a judgment had to be made.  Judgment and wisdom are not (necessarily) informed by STEM disciplines, but they both benefit from a broad and deep understanding of humanity and all of its complexity.