Beneath and Beyond the Crisis of the Humanities Essay

Course review Introduction                   The primary focus of the humanities class was the exploration of the vast array of issues and topics, especially those related to the culture of humans. In particular, the course exposed the learners to knowledge of the world, and the ways in which the members of society have developed the knowledge and ideologies. The areas of study that were explored during the course of the class included: human history, the politics of society, the world as a whole, and the philosophies developed by different groups and communities (Hariton 178). The class also explored a variety of focal areas, including those used as social lenses for the fashioning of the phenomena studied during the course. The fields that were explored as the lenses used for studying the human world and culture include religion, the channels utilized for communication and the literatures that are used as vehicles of knowledge (Harpham 21).                   The class in humanities has demonstrated its importance for all students in many ways. Firstly, the exposure and knowledge communicated to the humanities’ class was an essential ingredient in widening the analytical abilities needed to navigate other subjects and areas of study. For example, as a scholar of the humanities, it became easier to operate efficiently, as a member of a multicultural team. The scope of the humanities course was important in expanding the skills of communication, both in the areas of written and oral exchange. Through the exposure and the dissection of different studies and phenomena, students were able to conceive the interconnectedness of various knowledge areas. Examples of the practical skills learned included the importance of communication in all other circles of society. The study of global corporations and cultures was very helpful (Harpham 32). The uses of the knowledge included that it fostered the understanding of the various perspectives and knowledge systems studied and encountered in school and society. Through the knowledge developed from other cultures and corporations, learners developed more appreciation for other cultures, their arts, and literature. These constructions are a significant aspect to develop a global understanding of society and its workings. The exposure gained from the humanities class increased the student’s abilities of engaging in value clarification, which deepens the knowledge and wisdom acquired. Examples of the skills learned included those of overcoming failures and difficulties, towards victory – from the information obtained from the lives, experiences of others, and groups. For example, many lessons came from the lives of historical people like Plato and politicians like Abraham Lincoln. More importantly, the class offered the platform needed to cultivate the exchange with great minds like Plato, among others.                   The exposure to the class changed my perspective in a variety of ways. The change of view and outlook, as we navigated through the class included that there is a unique aspect of the nature of all societies. However, the fundamentals of organizations are almost exact copies from one to another. During the beginning of the course, it was easy to reach unfounded conclusions about the Islamic world, from the nature of modernization insurgences. The unwarranted conclusions included that Islam was anti-modernization, due to the attention accorded to normative issues and religious principles. However, after learning about the plurality of societies, it became apparent that the west defined Islam using Western stereotypes and Islam also did the same. The outcomes included the radicalism expressed by people like Ayattulah Khumeini (Hariton 178). The willingness of the East to participate in the modernization has been evidenced by the development of multicultural metros, including Dubai among others. The experience and the dissection of the core of the problems and the criticism channeled against Islam made the topic in Islam a imperative revelation. The themes that appealed to my zeal for knowledge included the fundamentalism of the Islamic world, traditions, and social systems. The emergence of Islam-fashioned modernism is another area that calls for more personal study (Hariton 178). References Hariton, Leon. Humanities 101. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse LLC, 2013. Print. Harpham, Geoffrey. â€Å"Beneath and Beyond the Crisis of the Humanities.† New Literary History, 36 (2005): 21-36. Source document