The value of the humanities

"The Value of Humanities provides a critical account of the principal arguments used to defend the value of the Humanities. Engaging closely with contemporary literary and philosophical work in the field, Helen Small distinguishes between arguments that retain strong Victorian roots and those that have developed or been substantially altered since. Unlike many works in this field, Small does not offer a polemic or a manifesto, her purpose is to explore the grounds for each argument, and to test its validity for the present day. Tough-minded, alert to changing historical conditions for argument and changing styles of rhetoric, it promises to sharpen the terms of the public debate"--Dust jacket.