I would like first to thank you for agreeing to make this interview with Hekmah.org.You talk about humanities and in their importance not only in improving individual qualities and with dealing with other individuals, but in shaping a nation's attitude toward others in addition to their role in economy, can you elaborate more on that?

The humanities (literature, philosophy, and history) make a big contribution to the quality of political citizenship. They cultivate three abilities that are crucial for good citizenship. First, Socratic self-examination. Courses in critical thinking and philosophy teach the crucial skill of deliberation and reflective analysis. People learn to understand the reasons why they support this or that policy, and to be curious about the reasoning of others. They also learn that some political debates use bad arguments, and to distinguish good argument from bad. This creates a space for genuine deliberation in our all-too-shrill public spaces, and conduces to respect for one’s opponents, who are seen not as mere enemies, but as human beings who have reasons for what they think.

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