On Aug 13, 2018, at 1:10 PM, Joseph Michalski <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi ToKers (yes, that's an interesting acronym). For the umpteenth time we are revisiting the perpetual "crisis in the humanities, including, by my count, at least the 3rd article I've retrieved entitled "Oh, the humanities". As most already now, that meme stems from Herbert Morrison's first-hand account of the Hindenburg disaster. (Fun fact: my father was a blimp pilot in WW II.) Please see the following article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/opinion/oh-the-humanities.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_ty_20180808&nl=opinion-today&nl_art=1&nlid=70909497emc%3Dedit_ty_20180808&ref=headline&te=1

Opinion | Oh, the Humanities! www.nytimes.com New data on college majors confirms an old trend. Technocracy is crushing the life out of humanism.

I share this because I have to propose some innovative changes at our university, since, as has been happening for decades, we are in "crisis" mode again. Like everywhere else, we've been witnessing the inexorable decline of the relative numbers of students in the humanities and a lesser decline in the social sciences. The data are absolutely compelling, as far as what has happened with programs and majors over the course of the last several decades. And our faculty our still quite defensive and territorial. But in light of the many folks and varied forms of expertise on this list, I'm wondering if this might not be a possible source of one of our main collective projects? Quite simply, if we were to put our heads together and re-invent the university for the 21st century, what would we come up with? 

One idea that stems from Gregg's and others' work on this list is the idea of reintegration and consilience. That is, as I've reviewed the history of the university (and thanks Mark to a couple of great references I've followed up on from your posts several weeks ago), it's remarkable how the classical beginnings were much more integrated substantively. No, there were no buildings, but there weren't all the artificial divisions that have evolved over the centuries either. And now, as we're seeing in our work through the ToK and UTUA, among other metaphysical offerings, it really just makes a lot more sense if we connect all the dots. I'd argue that that's the type of curriculum, with a solid dose of realism in terms of understanding technology, that will help us create knowledge that nurtures and 'enlightens' our souls, while at the same time developing commensurate practical tools that require creativity, analytic reasoning, and thoughtful engagement with culture and applications of technology - whether in business or the arts or governing or anything else. I'm developing a detailed paper on the reinvention of the university, both for my own immediate university and in terms of a broader academic focus, combining the data with the arguments surrounding possible new directions. I welcome any and all collaboration, including if there's something we'd like to publish jointly on the more formal academic side. 

If you'd like to work with me directly on this too, I can be reached apart from the list at:  [log in to unmask]

All best regards in the meantime, -Joe

Dr. Joseph H. Michalski

Acting Academic Dean/Associate Academic Dean

King’s University College at Western University

266 Epworth Avenue

London, Ontario, Canada  N6A 2M3

Tel: (519) 433-3491

Fax: (519) 963-1263

Email: [log in to unmask]

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