A Multimedia Presentation - James Genasci (c. 1994)

Item Information

Title:
A Multimedia Presentation - James Genasci (c. 1994)
Description:
This document titled “A Multimedia Presentation” is the Humanics Lecture that was given at Springfield College by Distinguished Professor of Humanics Dr. James Genasci in 1994. Dr. Genasci’s Humanics lecture was in reality a multimedia presentation. Genasci starts with a PowerPoint on the history of Humanics at Springfield College. He explains that the idea for the creation of the Humanics Professorship arose out of a study to determine if there was a congruence between various institutions of Higher Learning stated Philosophy and the faculty’s knowledge and practice of it. It was found that in fact there was not, and thus the tradition of nominating a Distinguished Professor of Humanics began in 1966 (Slide 3). Slide 4 goes on to describe how Dr. Laurence Doggett and Professor Burr were instrumental in the formulation of the idea of Humanics and the selection of the term. Genasci next goes on to talk about Dr. Seth Arsenian who was appointed as the first Distinguished Professor of Humanics. Genasci references Professor Harry Giles and his views that Humanics centers on the uniquenss of each individual, the unknown limits of human potential, and the power of growth. Genasci next references Dr. Charles F. Weckwerth (Humanics Professor from 1972-1975) and his understanding of the Humanics Philosophy and its development through 5 symbols: a circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and star. The circle, in the form of a compass, represents the wholeness of the person. The square represents the four fold aim of the YMCA in its early years, as well as the categories for curriculum offered during Dr. Doggett’s presidency. The four categories were religious education, biology, psychology, and sociology. The triangle represents Gulick’s inverted equilateral triangle of spirit, mind, and body. The rectangle represents the linear progression of student curricular processes from 1st year undergraduate all the way through 7th year doctoral students, and finally the star represents a 1964 rearrangement of the course offerings into 5 major categories. Holmes VanDerbeck, Professor VanDerbeck, Professor of Religion and fourth Humanics Professor from 1975-76 is referenced next. He offered that "Humanics" was a name to be given to a degree awarded after completion of a prescribed course of study not a descriptor term as in describing a particular kind of philosophy. He viewed Humanics as a noun and not an adjective, and believed there should be such thing as a “Humanics Degree.” Genasci next brings up Dr. Walter English, Professor of Psychology, who was the Distinguished Professor of Humanics in 1978. For him, Humanics was the pursuit of learning for the betterment of mankind. He believed that Humanics was less a statement of what exists, but instead a revelation of the dimension of our own inner perception. Genasci goes on to summarize the thoughts of other Distinguished Professors of Humanics at Springfield College, such as Dr. Josephine Cecco, Dr. Henry Paar, Professor Edward Sims, Dr. Edward (Ted) Dunn, Dr. Jesse Parks, Professor Jean Ross, Professor Herb Zettl, Dr. Paul Congdon, Professor James Robertson, Dr. Diane Potter, Dr. Joel Cohen, Dr. Janice Eldridge, and Dr. John Cox. In conclusion, Genasci states that after the study of the 26 presentations by the previous Distinguished Professors of Humanics can be viewed as an ideal that allows us to improve humankind, to be more humane than we are typically, and to demand that we take action and influence others. Humanics is a word that has a special meaning in the history and philosophy of Springfield College, as well as in the college’s motto of “Spirit, Mind, and Body.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines Humanics as, “the subject or study of human affairs or relations, especially of the human element of a problem or situation as opposed to the mechanical.” In 1962, Dr. Glenn Olds, President of Springfield College at the time, began to wonder why this name was given to the intended philosophy of the college by Dr. Laurence Locke Doggett, Springfield College’s first full-time president. Olds acknowledged that the practices of the faculty were in large part consistent with the Humanics philosophy, but he believed that a more self-conscious application would improve chances of its continuity and survival. To ensure this, a Distinguished Professor of Humanics position was created at the college, first filled by Dr. Seth Arsenian from 1966-1969. The purpose of this position was to catalyze a renewal of consciousness in the philosophy. This was done by annually mandating the Distinguished Professor of Humanics to give a Humanics lecture on the definition of Humanics and what the concept means to them. Arsenian started this tradition in 1967 with his speech titled, “The Meaning of Humanics,” in which he described the concept as a set of ideas, values, and goals that make our college distinct from other colleges and make commitment and unity toward commonly sought goals possible.
Creator:
Genasci, James E.
Date:
1994
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Distinguished Professor of Humanics Collection
Subjects:
Humanics
Springfield College
Springfield College--Faculty
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
Genasci, James E.
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
15 Pages
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/7164
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
Humanics_Genasci_A Multimedia Presentation