<p>Though Stanford’s humanities programs are extremely highly-ranked in every source I’ve seen, I have no need to rely on rankings because I have plenty of personal experience. The humanities courses I’ve taken here have been uniformly excellent, whether in lit, poetry, philosophy, or linguistics. There are centers and institutes focused purely on humanities and others on the intersection of humanities with other disciplines. There are also ongoing colloquia, forums, and visiting renowned novelists, playwrights and screenwriters. Stanford produced five Rhodes Scholars last year alone, only one of whom was an engineering grad.</p>
<p>It’s easy, and very intellectually lazy, to succumb to the idea that one aspect of a complex phenomenon is the defining one. (That’s known as a false synecdoche among logicians.) It’s especially easy to succumb to that notion when there is disproportionate media attention on the splashier, “sexier” component. I’ve found Stanford’s humanities offerings to be just as fine as the STEM ones I’ve taken, and the faculty is entirely devoted to continually developing them. Among their objectives is to ensure that study of the humanities at Stanford shines a light on what the goals and societal benefits of technology should be. : )</p>