The Battle of the Classics: How a Nineteenth-Century Debate Can Save the Humanities Today

The Battle of the Classics argues that current defenses of the humanities rely on the humanistic disciplines as inculcators of certain poorly defined skills and that proponents of the Great Books favor a curriculum that is too intellectually narrow for the twenty-first century. It proposes a substance-based approach to undergraduate education that will revive the humanities,based on the examination of masterworks from manifold cultures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

These are indeed challenging times for the humanities. In response, a recent surge of works has emerged, advocating for the preservation and significance of these disciplines. However, it is crucial to examine the overall message conveyed by these works and their persuasive power.

The Battle of the Classics serves as a powerful critique of contemporary apologetics for the humanities. It presents a historically informed alternative approach to rescuing the humanistic disciplines in higher education. By reopening the passionate debates about the classics that occurred in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century America, the book seeks to craft a novel foundation for the humanistic tradition.

Eric Adler, in his book, highlights the limitations of current defenses of the humanities. He argues that these defenses often rely on the humanistic disciplines as inculcators of certain poorly defined skills, such as critical thinking. However, Adler criticizes this conventional approach, contending that humanists cannot hope to save their disciplines without advocating for specific humanities content. The book demonstrates that the uninspired defenses of the classical humanities in the late nineteenth century prove the limitations of instrumental apologetics.

Nevertheless, The Battle of the Classics also points out that proponents of the Great Books favor a curriculum that is too intellectually narrow for the twenty-first century. It suggests that a substance-based approach to undergraduate education is necessary to revive the humanities, while avoiding an overreliance on the Western canon. The book envisions a global humanities based on the examination of masterworks from diverse cultures, as the heart of an intellectually and morally sound education.

In conclusion, The Battle of the Classics is a thought-provoking and compelling book that offers a valuable perspective on the current state and future of the humanities. It challenges the conventional approaches to apologetics and advocates for a more substantive and culturally diverse approach to undergraduate education. By resurrecting the debates about the classics and exploring the richness of diverse cultures, the book aims to revitalize the humanities and ensure their relevance in the twenty-first century.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197680810