Will there be a “humanities” in the future? Spoiler: yes

The humanities are often considered sciences.of the past, not in the sense that they are not needed now, but in the fact that a huge layer of philosophy and history of the language is still in the past and today is undergoing not as dramatic changes as the sphere of science and technology. Most people who believe in life in the future believe that their lives will be closely intertwined with advanced technologies. Accordingly, the number of applicants to enroll in humanities is reduced, and scientific advisers often diminish the importance of humanities for the labor market.

But the main thing is that science and technology are aimed at helping people. The interface between people and advanced technologies is a border where a humanitarian point of view is simply necessary.

Is there a place for humanitarians in the future?

Thirty years ago in the west the development of a narrowExperience was the key to professionalism. It was assumed that the manufacturer of leather shoes with rubber soles should know everything about making leather and rubber in the form of shoes, and he did not have time for peripheral training.

Those who did not listen to this advice became carriers.interdisciplinary perspectives and modern innovations. And they also say today that in the future we are waiting for the integration of the humanities into solid science and technology. Academic studies of the interaction of people and machines will rejuvenate the disciplines that have become inactive, and will connect the humanities with our future, not the past.

Several examples come to mind. First of all, this is a study on ethics. There are big ethical questions concerning genetic engineering: what changes in the human genetic process do we need to make? Should we create in people the qualities that society wants to see in them?

Another area is related to the consequences of collecting bigdata: how do we use a huge amount of information that is collected from people every day and analyze it in the interests of the psychology and social sciences? Can we use this data to build computer models that could predict human behavior to determine policy or political decisions?

Recent developments in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning touch on fundamental questions of philosophy: what is the essence of consciousness? Is there free will?

There are also existential questions about the goal.human life: will robots and AI replace human labor in all areas, from construction sites to scientific research? How will the future economy adapt to a new reality in which people will need to work less? Will people retire forever? If so, what will be their meaning of life?

And there will be fundamental questions about whetherWhether human creativity in art or science is unique or it can be reproduced using machines. Will we be in a world in which AI will be used to create art or for unexpected scientific discoveries? AIs are already programming to replace doctors when prescribing drugs to patients with known symptoms, but should computers also make decisions about treatment? And if AI will make mistakes that harm people, should software developers be legally responsible, or should self-learning algorithms be considered independent of their human creators?

Social networks are already coming to the foredata privacy public debate: how do we protect our privacy with the future of information technology? Who should allow access to the data? How to mitigate losses from unexpected leaks?

It is not difficult to imagine how the ancient Greeks fitwould be in modern science and technology. Without a doubt, Aristotle would have been fascinated by the cosmology of the Big Bang. Aristarchus of Samos would be delighted with the recent discoveries of exoplanets. Zenon of Elea became interested in the possibility of switching on the machine using the application for Apple Watch. Socrates would criticize the herd mentality of social networks.

Philosophers, sociologists, psychologists and artists willto take part in the future development of technology so that they better meet human needs and values. Humanitarians will be needed because technology goes beyond the usual concepts of iron and silicon.

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