
The Value of the Humanities
Helen Small(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 3. October 2013
Book
Hardback
214 pages
978-0-19-968386-4 (ISBN)
Description
The Value of the Humanities provides a critical account of the principal arguments used to defend the value of the Humanities. The claims considered are: that the Humanities study the meaning-making practices of culture, and bring to their work a distinctive understanding of what constitutes knowledge and understanding; that, though useful to society in many ways, they remain laudably at odds with, or at a remove from, instrumental use value; that they contribute to human happiness; that they are a force for democracy; and that they are a good in themselves, to be valued 'for their own sake'. Engaging closely with contemporary literary and philosophical work in the field from the UK and US, Helen Small distinguishes between arguments that retain strong Victorian roots (Mill on happiness; Arnold on use value) and those that have developed or been substantially altered since. Unlike many works in this field, The Value of the Humanities is not a polemic or a manifesto. Its purpose is to explore the grounds for each argument, and to test its validity for the present day. Tough-minded, alert to changing historical conditions for argument and changing styles of rhetoric, it promises to sharpen the terms of the public debate.
Reviews / Votes
I can especially commend The Value of the Humanities to an Irish audience ... [it will] serve both as an inspiration and as a template for authors wishing to take up the challenge of defending research in a broad spread of disciplines from the short-sighted but ultimately ruinous plans of todays utilitarians. * Nicholas Canny, Dublin Review of Books * The Value of the Humanities a stimulating, unemotional, closely argued book seeks to shift the debate away from overly negative criticisms of government policies and to adopt a reflective and measured approach to the issues. * Colin Steele, Australian Book Review * Highly intelligent * Barton Swain, Wall Street Journal * a lucid summary of the case for the humanities that avoids the victim complex that is the bane of such discussions. * David Willetts, Times Higher Education * Helen Small does a good job cheerleading for [the Humanities]. * Northern Echo *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Students and scholars of the humanities; students and scholars interested in the politics of higher education; students and scholars of critical theory, education, and politics.
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
407 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-968386-4 (9780199683864)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Helen Small
The Value of the Humanities
Book
06/2016
Oxford University Press
€31.55
Shipment within 15-20 days

Helen Small
The Value of the Humanities
E-Book
10/2013
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€14.99
Available for download
Person
Helen Small is Professor of English at Oxford University and Jonathan and Julia Aisbitt Fellow of English at Pembroke College, Oxford. She is the author of The Long Life (OUP, 2007) (awarded the Truman Capote Award for Literary Criticism 2007) and the editor of The Public Intellectual (2002).
Author
Jonathan and Julia Aisbitt Fellow in English Literature, Pembroke College, Oxford
Content
Introduction ; 1. Distinction from other Disciplines ; 2. Use and Usefulness ; 3. Socrates Dissatisfied: The Argument for a Contribution to Happiness ; 4. 'Democracy Needs Us': The Gadfly Argument for the Humanities ; 5. For Its Own Sake ; Conclusion: On Public Value ; Bibliography