In

Cultivating Humanity, Martha C. Nussbaum revisits the Greeks views of the necessity of a
liberal education in creating a healthy democracy. In this educational reform an emphasis is
placed on the role of literature, which not only teaches one to embrace traits such as respect,
understanding and compassion but enables the individual to cultivate himself. When
Nussbaum talks about cultivating humanity she establishes three focal points: critical self-
examination, capacity to see ourselves as human beings, and the narrative imagination. The
education Nussbaum vouches for is one that goes beyond making a pupil amass a vast range of
knowledge. A type of education that prepares the individual to think critically and develop a
certain sensitivity to the world that surrounds him, so he has the ability to make informed
political decisions and sustain a proper democracy.

When talking about cultivating humanity Nussbaum articulates various views which can be
regrouped under the same aim of personal growth. The two key points that surge from these
views are critical thought, and with it, the ability to think for oneself without constantly
submitting to authority, as well as learning to understand and accept individuals different from
ourselves. The main aim of cultivating humanity is learning how to be self aware as well as
mindful of those around us. It is important in this task to not focus on the aspects which make
us different from other individuals, but our similarities. In order to achieve relationships with
people of the opposite gender or with a different culture, sexual orientation, or religion it
becomes important to understand what makes us different rather than merely affirming those
differences.

In order to cultivate humanity it becomes essential to reform the educational system. Although
the current educational system allows for the amassing of a range of knowledge, it neglects the
development of certain abilities, which Nussbaum argues to be essential in the creation of a
healthy democracy and a globalized culture. “Literary art develops capacities for perception and
judgment that are at the very heart of democracy…” Nussbaum in supporting these ideologies,
embraces the multiculturalism present throughout the world, the aim not to reinforce the
differences of one an other, but to develop the ability to comprehend, even if only to a certain
extent, the inner core of the people around us. This is achieved through reading, as “Narrative
art has the power to make us see the lives of the different with more than a casual tourist’s
interest”. Nussbaum takes the example of the nursery rhyme ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, little star’,
where the child is taught to wonder about that little star from a young age, and in doing so they
learn to perceive it as more than a mere shape but something which has its own inner world. It
develops an awareness within the child of the fact that what is visible from the exterior is not
what solely constitutes a person. “The habits of wonder promoted by storytelling thus define the
other person as spacious and deep, with qualitative differences from oneself and hidden places
worthy of respect” and the recognition of this is essential in moral interactions. A literary
character is much more easily known than an other human being, the reader enters the shoes
of that character and throughout the novel “literary imagining both inspires intense concern
with the fate of characters and defines those characters as containing a rich inner life, not all of
which is open to view”. This ability to wonder and perceive beyond mere looks it what allows us
to find commonalities with those who appear different from ourselves and reduce the breach
that exists.

The importance of reducing the breach amongst humans, which may be created through
stereotypes or lack of knowledge, and understanding of those that differ from us is necessary
for a democracy. The liberal arts education rejects the notion of identity politics where “one’s
affiliation is with one’s local group”. The educational system Nussbaum wishes to reinstate is
one which embraces the differences amongst humans but looks for common ground, rather
than each group fighting for its own interest. The aim is in creating critical thinkers that can
overcome the boundaries of race, gender, religion of social class. Works such as Invisible Man
are there to help “all citizens to perceive racial issues with greater clarity” rather than have
“differences as something to be affirmed rather than understood”. The global citizen is one who
will not only think of himself, but perceive himself as equal and therefore not value his needs
as being greater than his neighbor. The various arguments that Nussbaum puts forth in her
essay all support the necessity of the liberal arts education, as it allows a pupil to grow out of a
sphere of pure academia. It enables him to develop a critical mind as well as traits such as
compassion, which can only help in the creation of a harmonious global community. These
different elements combined together make the importance of a liberal education apparent in
achieving a proper democracy.