The Humanistic Journey in University: Re-evaluating the Value of Humanities and Social Sciences in Undergraduate Education

Author: Yan Guangcai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The logical progression of thought in this book is as follows: , following the trajectory of Western intellectual and cultural development, attempts to understand the original connotation of the humanities in traditional university education. Second, it seeks to analyze the causes of the humanities and social sciences declining from their peak in university education by examining the differentiation of knowledge, the opposition between different disciplinary cultures, and the formation process of the complex landscape of various discourses in the humanities and social sciences. Third, based on the changes in the contemporary social environment and the cultural background that gives rise to the spiritual crisis of humanity, it explains the contemporary spirit of the humanities and social sciences and their new social functional connotations, thereby emphasizing the importance of the humanities and social sciences in cultivating students' sense of social responsibility. Fourth, within a comprehensive theoretical framework of globalization and localization, it analyzes the historical evolution of the relationship between universities and nation-states and their new positioning, elaborating on the unique role of universities in promoting global universal ethics and maintaining the development of national cultures, as well as the fundamental stance they should hold. Fifth, it comprehensively reviews the real social connotations of the emergence, development, and transformation of various university education philosophies since the 20th century, which are intertwined with countless conflicts, analyzing the ways and characteristics of the ebb and flow of various forces within this process. Sixth, synthesizing the development trends and characteristics of contemporary human knowledge, society, and university education, it proposes new ideas for the disciplinary training systems and institutional reforms of the humanities and social sciences in universities from the perspectives of disciplinary system transformation and the rational allocation and effective utilization of resources. Seventh, combining the undergraduate education models of a few world-class research universities and their learning requirements for humanities and social science courses, it provides a brief analysis of the current state of undergraduate education in comprehensive universities in China, aiming to offer some inspiration for the transformation of contemporary undergraduate education. The content of this book covers the integrated logic of the humanities and university education, the landscape of knowledge opposition and university education, human development and university education philosophy, and the institutional reforms of university disciplines.