Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities

by Martha C. Nussbaum

Book Overview

A passionate defense of the humanities from one of today's foremost public intellectuals In this short and powerful book, celebrated philosopher Martha Nussbaum makes a passionate case for the importance of the liberal arts at all levels of education. Historically, the humanities have been central to education because they have rightly been seen as essential for creating competent democratic citizens. But recently, Nussbaum argues, thinking about...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691140642
• ISBN13: 9780691140643
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Highly idealistic and naive

Her argument is centered around how a more deliberate and intensive focus on liberal arts within public schools can produce better democratic citizens. As a liberal arts student, this idea seemed charming--but upon further investigation and contemplation, it's an extremely fallacious belief (and not an argument at all). She makes lots of contradictions. For example, she acknowledges that what someone learns and knows can have little effect on how they act--but then she continues to argue otherwise. [I'm also a musician and have worked with lots of dancers; I also study philosophy; and let me tell you, artists and thinkers can be just as close minded, noxious, and a selfish as any STEM student.] She idolized democracy without acknowledging some of its most fundamental flaws. She fails to go in depth on the influence and dangers of technology in schools. Overall, this book is no more than a utopian, narrow minded day dream. Don't waste your time unless you're studdying bad arguments.