Philosophy & The Humanities in the Digital Age

This show continues our discussion from last week about the practical value of the humanities. In addition to humanities needing to justify its worth because of the recession, some critics charge that the traditional university needs to justify its worth because its functions have been largely supplanted by the internet and the sea of information that one has at one’s fingertips. This week, we take up that charge. Are there things that go on within the traditional university -- and by humanities and philosophy classes that cannot be supplanted by the internet? To answer this question, we will discuss the intersection of humanities, identity and technology. We will discuss how the humanities and philosophy play an important role in the construction of one’s identity and self and in one’s “search for meaning” -- a fundamental need that, if not satisfied, leads to the Quarterlife Crisis (see our show on that aired on 5/13). The internet and social media have raised deep questions about whether MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc., harm/hinder one’s search for meaning and the creation of one’s self. We discuss.