Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities. Martha C. Nussbaum

A passionate defense of the humanities from one of today’s greatest public intellectuals
The humanities have always been central to education, seen as essential to the formation of competent democratic citizens. But now, Nussbaum argues, the vision of the purpose of education has shifted around the world. Increasingly, the primary goal of education is to develop skills for economic productivity, rather than critical thinking and empathy. This myopic focus on profitable skills undermines people’s ability to criticize authority, diminishes empathy for the marginalized and the different, and diminishes their competence in solving complex, global problems. The loss of these basic skills threatens the health of democracies and the hope for a decent world.

In response to this dire situation, Nussbaum argues that humanity must resist attempts to reduce education to a tool for gross national product. And, conversely, to work to restore the connection between education and the humanities, to provide an opportunity to be formed as true democratic citizens of their countries and the world.