Philosophy of the Humanities Study Group

The humanities and the humanistic social sciences are widely perceived to be in trouble. They face declining enrollments, increasing public skepticism and a litany of complaints from academics about the low scholarly standards operative within them.

We are especially concerned about the latter charge. Over thirty years ago, Alan Sokal and various other scientists, complained about the widespread misunderstanding and misuse of natural science in the work of prominent humanities theorists.  Similarly, philosophers have worried about the unquestioning embrace, within vast stretches of the humanities, of problematic philosophical views, most especially relativistic views concerning truth, evidence and knowledge. These views license the idea that knowledge is never ideologically neutral but always reflects some rationally optional set of background values. More recently, several critics have suggested that several humanistic disciplines, including sociology and cultural anthropology, have replaced the pursuit of theoretical understanding with moralizing and activism.

The purpose of this interdisciplinary group is to assess whether, and to what extent, these complaints are justified.

Working Group Members

K. Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy and Law, NYU

Paul Boghossian, Julius Silver Professor of Philosophy and Chair; Director, Global Institute for Advanced Study, NYU

Kit Fine, Julius Silver Professor of Philosophy and Mathematics, NYU

Katherine E. Fleming, President and CEO, J. Paul Getty Trust; Alexander S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Culture and Civilization; Provost Emerita, NYU

Gideon A. Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Princeton