Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities

Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities Martha C. Nussbaum’s Not for Profit argues that modern education is facing a silent crisis as nations prioritise short-term economic growth over the humanities and arts. This shift transforms students into obedient machines rather than critical thinkers, threatening the stability of global democracy. Nussbaum suggests that the humanistic model is essential because it fosters the empathy and imagination necessary to view others as equal citizens rather than mere tools. By drawing on the theories of John Dewey and Rabindranath Tagore, she illustrates how a liberal arts approach combats dangerous human tendencies like subservience to authority and projective disgust. Ultimately, the text serves as a call to action to rescue educational systems from a narrow profit-driven focus that neglects the human soul.