Kate Marie Buencochillo BABA 1-A

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The Need to Study Humanities
In understanding the world around us, it is important to first know what makes us who we are,
and that is where the crucial role of humanities comes into play. Encompassing aspects such as literature,
history, language, philosophy and art, humanities is often an undervalued discipline as it is considered
trivial when compared to medicine and other applied sciences. However, we have to recognize the
importance of each rather than to value one field of knowledge more highly than the other. There is a
need to study humanities because it gives us a multi-angle perspective of the world, serves as a tool for
new technologies to survive and helps us become informed and critical citizens.
By studying humanities, we can see the world through a different lens. It provides insights about
everything from poetry to politics. Reading literature sheds light on different human experiences,
listening to a song native to a country gives a depiction of their daily lives and learning a new language
can foster a deeper appreciation for a foreign culture. Considering these examples, humanities can
encourage us to empathize with others, even if our beliefs do not exactly align with each other. It allows
us to magnify our view so we can turn to the use of reason, not emotion, in interpreting our similarities
and differences.
The era of technological advancement owes a great deal of its success to humanities. Millennials
nowadays can’t seem to be detached from their phones and gadgets and that is because technology is
designed to appeal to humans - to know that they crave for instant gratification. To achieve that, however,
requires programmers to have a deep knowledge of the humanities. Facebook understands the need for
constant validation, thus the presence of the react button; online stores like Shopee entice you with so
many promos to lead you into thinking you can save but you actually buy more and spend more. Put
simply, humanities is the bedrock of a satisfied user experience and an increased interaction with
technology, and so the indispensable need to learn more about it.
In order to fully grasp the human experience, we must not merely rely on data points and look for
definitive answers, but also prioritize the beauty in thinking more critically and asking complex questions
to better make sense of the world. Humanities is more than just dates in history - it is making a connection
between the context of choices made before our time and what consequences it may bring in the future.
As citizens of our nation, we are posed with a challenge to contribute in the upliftment of the human race,
and what better way to do that than diving into the realms of the past and use it as guide to make wiser
decisions in moving forward. Without an educated citizenry equipped with the skills taught in humanities
– to separate fact from fiction, choose right from wrong, use logic and reason, communicate effectively –
then I doubt the solutions to our most pressing problems will ever see the light of day.