The Humanities Should Constitute The Core Of

Ivory Towers Are As Rare As Bowling Alleys In Tribal Cultures.

The Conversion Of Agnostic High Tories To The Anglican Church Is Always Rather Suspect. It Seems Too Pat And Predictable, Too Clearly A Matter Of Politics Rather Than Faith.

In The End, The Humanities Can Only Be Defended By Stressing How Indispensable They Are; And This Means Insisting On Their Vital Role In The Whole Business Of Academic Learning, Rather Than Protesting That, Like Some Poor Relation, They Don't Cost Much To Be Housed.

We Face A Conflict Between Civilisation And Culture, Which Used To Be On The Same Side. Civilisation Means Rational Reflection, Material Wellbeing, Individual Autonomy And Ironic Self-doubt; Culture Means A Form Of Life That Is Customary, Collective, Passionate, Spontaneous, Unreflective And Arational.

The Past Can Be Used To Renew The Present, Not Just To Bury It.