Fireside Chat: British philosopher talks importance of the humanities

A.C. Grayling, philosopher, author and founder of New College of the Humanities in London, England, said studying the humanities helps students develop critical acumen and become thought leaders, entrepreneurs and keen evaluators. 

Grayling was the featured speaker for the second Fireside Chat, hosted by President Philomena V. Mantella and Provost Maria Cimitile, held December 6 in the Holton-Hooker Learning and Living Center on the Allendale Campus.

Grayling said when he gives presentations about the importance of the humanities he tells the audience to imagine a society that doesn't care about literature, philosophy or history.

"If a society knew no history, it would have no sense of its present and no resource to navigate its future," Grayling said. "The humanities stretch, develop and mature our sympathies and our understanding of what it is to be human."

Grayling was named the first master of New College, an independent undergraduate college, in 2011. The college is small by design, around 200 students, and offers highly personalized teaching, with a one-to-one tutorial system.  

Grayling said it's important for larger higher education institutions to provide opportunities for very personalized, small group connections for students and faculty to interact.

"This provides an opportunity for faculty to challenge students and ask them hard questions. It allows students to think their way through problems," he said. 

Grayling encouraged faculty members to wait for answers when asking students questions, and to not be afraid of the silence as students take time to think and formulate answers and ideas.

Employers want employees with a humanities background, Grayling said, because they are flexible, adaptable thinkers who can deal with different challenges. Grayling shared a comment from an employer who said everything that happens in the world, despite robots and artificial intelligence, is the result of a human being saying yes or no. 

Fireside Chats are part of the president's Reach Higher Together initiative. "We're bringing together thought activators and people who are leading conversations around education in the 21st century, who are offering a variety of perspectives to help us shape our own direction for the future," Mantella said. 

For more information about the Reach Higher Together initiative, visit gvsu.edu/president.