In the first class, the teacher talked about having one''s own ''criteria for judgment.''I used to casually think I might have a ''decision-making problem'' when I hesitated and couldn''t choose in moments of decision, but I realized it was because I lacked my own criteria for judgment. As I continued attending the class, I learned that such criteria should be based on my values, and setting my own values became my goal. -A lively humanities discussion that changed my life / Kim Yu-gyeong, gap-year participant |
Humanities?!
Recently, college students preparing for employment have probably heard the word ''humanities'' a lot.
There''s a so-called ''humanities craze.'' I also read a few humanities books since last year, but I found them difficult, stiff, and boring. With people talking about humanities everywhere, I wanted to know properly why that was and what humanities really is, and I happened to hear that Korea Gap Year was running a program combining humanities and debate, so I decided to join.
Setting my own values became my goal.
At first, I simply thought, ''let''s find out what humanities is.'' But in the first class, the teacher talked about having one''s own ''criteria for judgment.''I used to casually think I might have a ''decision-making problem'' when I hesitated and couldn''t choose in moments of decision, but I realized it was because I lacked my own criteria for judgment. As I continued attending the class, I learned that such criteria should be based on my values, and setting my own values became my goal.
Attitude toward debate
The special thing about this class is, above all, the debate. Through debate you can organize your thoughts and listen to others'' ideas. In particular, you can understand why people who argue against your claim hold that view, and through their arguments you can consider the weaknesses in the reasons supporting your own claims.
If some people feel burdened by debating, the class teaches the attitudes one should have during debate, so you don''t have to feel overly burdened. For example, ''Debate isn''t about winning or losing; it''s just that one side''s argument is more or less rational.'' I was initially uneasy about debate too, but learning the proper attitudes to take during debate helped reduce some of that burden.
After the course
"Values"
The biggest change after the course is that I now have the goal of establishing my life values. I had never once thought about my values before. The closest I came was last year in a job club when they said ''decide the company you want to go to first,'' and I wondered, ''Is it better to work somewhere that pays a lot?'' or ''Is it better to have good benefits even if it pays less?'' That was the first time I questioned, ''What do I want?''
Until then, most of the choices I had made were because ''everyone does it.'' After taking this humanities debate class, I''m continuously trying to find my own simple truths or criteria for judgment that won''t waver whenever a decision point comes in my life.
"Different thoughts"
I also realized that what I think is right isn''t necessarily so for everyone. During debates, I often ended up arguing from the opposite position of what I initially thought. At first it was very disorienting, but as I stood on the opposing side asking, ''Why do they make this claim?'' and articulated the reasons behind that opposing stance, I came to understand those who held the opposite view.
I also realized that, from the opposing side, there were shortcomings in the evidence I had presented for what I thought was right. So what I believed to be right isn''t always right for everyone, and I became able to understand opposing positions.
"Thinking"
Finally, I began to truly ''think.'' When the teacher told us to look beneath the surface when reading news, I realized that I had been absorbing countless news items on my phone without much thought. I used to accept them as a given, but now I''ve developed the habit of reflecting more on how the information in an article might affect me and whether the article''s supporting evidence is valid.
After taking the class I haven''t fully established my own values and criteria for judgment. However, I felt the need and recognized the importance of forming my values, and I plan to keep working and acting to establish them. In particular, I met wonderful people in this 5th cohort and plan to continue the humanities debate group. Personally, I haven''t read many books, but I intend to read all the books on the humanities reading list the teacher provided and to read many more.
