Highlights major points concerning the scope and purpose of the humanities from five educational treatises from the Italian Renaissance. Compares them with Allan Bloom's and E. D. Hirsch, Jr.'s, ideas and revisionist approaches to literature studies. Concludes that the right and left perceive the humanities as a means to political power. (DMM)

According to this interview, the humanities are as essential to the educational reform agenda as mathematics and science. The humanities lead us to values, to deep questions about life's meaning and dignity. Our society's diversity, coupled with the national goal to educate everyone to the best of his or her ability, makes general education a…

At a meeting of academic and public humanists, scholars agreed and expressed a need for scholars, the public, and the sponsors of public humanities programs to come together to encourage the humanities in society at large, and to find specific ways to bring humanities to the public's attention. (MSE)

The growth in legitimacy of relativist perspectives in broad areas of scholarship in the social sciences and humanities is discussed in terms of its importance for the study of colleges and universities. Types of irony as conveyors of relativist sensibility are applied to classic sociological concepts significant for higher education. (Author/MLW)

Provides an annotated bibliography of 61 information sources for understanding how scholars in the humanities use electronic texts and computer-based methods of analysis; identifying and locating electronic texts and related resources; and addressing issues involved in the production, distribution, and use of electronic texts. (LRW)

Describes the value of the study of mythology in the humanities, asserting that mythology can help students develop a value system that aids in their ability to cope and relate with other people and can encourage them to explore the diverse interests and experiences of other people. (DMM)

Suggests that instruction and research that combine the humanities and computer science should be conducted by people skilled in both fields. Argues against dividing such work between idea and technical people. Describes a neural network approach to the study of metaphor that reflects the connectionist method. (SG)

Presents cubism as metaphor to think about medical humanities curriculum in medical school curriculum. Uses Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych," and Olsen's "Tell Me a Riddle" to illustrate how literary inquiry might enable medical students and other health care providers to think about…

Approaches to culturally relevant ways of thinking about the diverse elderly population are use of grounded theory, humanities as a source of information about the lives of ethnic minority elderly, and a life-course perspective. (SK)

The third article in a series of excerpts from seminars sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution on knowledge collaboration focuses on the humanities and social sciences. Reasons for the relatively greater frequency of collaborative research in the natural sciences are examined, and examples of collaborative projects in the humanities and social…

Limitations of the market-economy model for organizing research in certain areas of knowledge, particularly the humanities, are discussed. A perspective in which knowledge is treated as a gift to society rather than a free-market commodity is outlined, and it is concluded that humanities and other research should be organized accordingly. (MSE)

A study examined the effectiveness of the four major programs providing humanities research fellowships: National Endowment for the Humanities, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, American Council of Learned Societies, and National Humanities Center. Results show declining resources to support the work of individual scholars in the…

An arts and humanities course for students in a midwifery diploma program explored images and concepts of childbirth, caring, and parenthood. Evaluation showed the 20 students gained insights into human experiences that will enhance practice. (SK)

Language and literary arts are based in the technology of communication, making communication studies in technology education inherently interdisciplinary. An interdisciplinary approach emphasizing learning to learn and metacognition can allay concerns about the future of the written word in a world increasingly driven by technology. (SK)

Reports concerns of scholars that the National Endowment for the Humanities is increasing support for many popular programs while decreasing or eliminating support for projects that involve the editing of important scholarly papers. Notes congressional support for the Endowment's current policy including its emphasis on fund raising by grant…