Why the Humanities and Social Sciences matter?

"An advanced civilization must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future."
- National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S.A.

"The Humanities remind us where we have been and help us envision where we are going. Emphasizing critical perspective and imaginative response, the humanities - including the study of languages, literature, history, film, civics, philosophy, religion, and the arts - foster creativity, appreciation of our commonalities and our differences., and knowledge of all kinds.

"The social science reveal patterns in our lives, over time in the present moment. Employing the observational and experimental methods of the natural sciences, the social sciences - including anthropology, economics, political science and government, sociology, and psychology - examine and predict behavioral and organizational processes.

"Together, they help us understand what it means to be human and connect us with our global community."
- The Heart of the Matter, p. 9.

"We live in a world characterized by change - and therefore a world dependent on the humanities and social sciences. How do we understand and manage change if we have no notion of the past? How do we understand ourselves if we have no notion of a society, culture, or world different from the one in which we live?

"A fully balanced curriculum - including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences - provides opportunities for integrative thinking and imagination, for creativity and discovery, and for good citizenship.

"The humanities and social sciences are not merely elective, nor are they elite or elitist. They go beyond the immediate and instrumental to help us understand the past and the future. They are necessary and they require our support in challenging times as well as in times of prosperity. They are critical to our pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness, as described by our nation's founders. They are The Heart of the Matter."
- The Heart of the Matter, p. 13.