Abstract
This chapter introduces the concept of ‘critical humanism’ - the unifying theme of the book - in the context of the current, pressing need to undertake some redefinition of humanities higher education, which is perceived to be in crisis. Some responses to the contemporary situation of the humanities are explored, from within traditional, utilitarian and social forms of humanism. In this situation, a particular form of social humanism is proposed as most apt and fruitful, in which the purposes of the humanities are derived from the processes involved in their study rather than from any extrinsic considerations. It is argued that the humanities are united by their focus on human cultures, by their ‘textuality’ and their methodology. Accordingly, a coming together of hermeneutics and pedagogics is seen to pick out and privilege some teaching-learning methods and practices, both traditional and electronic. It is hoped that such a conception of the purposes and practices of the humanities may encourage a federation among humanities educators - a ‘speaking with one voice’: the social unity we need to determine our own aims and practices and also to sustain the widest possible range of intellectual interests.
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Chambers, E. (2001). Critical Humanism. In: Chambers, E.A. (eds) Contemporary Themes in Humanities Higher Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9678-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9678-7_1
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