The Humanities Were Never Neutral
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TL;DR
- The debate questions whether the humanities should prioritize pure inquiry or social justice, with different perspectives on the Mellon Foundation's role.
- Historically, universities and scholarship were not detached from societal structures and politics, contrary to a perceived "golden age" of neutrality.
- Examining excluded voices and confronting injustice are presented as integral to the practice of the humanities, not as contaminants.
- The article suggests the humanities are at a precipice due to a cultural insistence on immediate "worth" and the financialization of nearly everything, rather than a plot against them.
- A potential reason for declining humanities enrollment is the increasing number of students from lower-class families needing majors that offer clearer job prospects.
- Some argue that focusing on social justice in grant applications is excessive, while others see it as a necessary response to existing inequities and a sign of democracy.
- The long retreat of public investment and market logic in higher education are identified as deeper crises impacting the humanities.