by David D. Horowitz.
I am proud my bachelor’s degrees are in philosophy and English literature. That said, I’ve often been subject to the mock bewilderment of “But what can you do with an English (or philosophy or Classics or history or fill-in-the-humanities-blank) degree?” Well, to start, one could wonder more wonderfully, marvel more marvelously, and think more thoughtfully.
And one could manage and serve a business more effectively.
“Did you say ‘business’?”
Yes. Studying English, for example, could help one write sizzling marketing copy, resolve disputes amongst fellow employees through tactful negotiation, and precisely answer customers’ questions. One could compose enticing menu entries and eliminate grammatical and punctuation errors from the draft of a brochure. In turn, one’s supervisor might recommend one for a raise; it’s not everyone who knows to include the apostrophe in “It’s wonderful” or exclude it in “The committee will meet to discuss its scheduling options.” Not everyone can condense “I am very impressed by the fact that there are occasions when it might be necessary to offer some assistance and help” to “Offering some assistance is occasionally necessary.”
And it’s not everyone who cultivates wonder by composing sonnets or landscape paintings or by studying Han Dynasty jade sculpture or twentieth-century abstract painting. Look at the wonder of what is possible! Look at that magnificent jade horse, and appreciate the subtle rhyming in that love sonnet!
And now look at how our company might redesign that stairwell. It’s too dangerous now, but it could be made safer, and here’s how. And we’ll save much money if we order one thousand of these pens now, when they’re on a special sale, rather than buy one hundred at a time, as we’ve been doing. And look how if we avoid gossiping and smirking at others’ errors we create a more welcoming, productive office atmosphere for everyone. Imagine that—everyone happy here. How wonderful!