The article addresses the concerning trend of decreasing enrollment in humanities disciplines at German universities. This decline has raised questions about the role and value of the humanities within the broader scientific and educational system. Despite the significant drop in students, government officials in relevant ministries seem unconcerned, often using the situation as a justification to reduce faculty positions or even eliminate them altogether.

Many administrators appear to regard the humanities as secondary or less legitimate compared to other scientific fields, seeing them as essentially non-essential, or merely a form of leisurely intellectual engagement. This perspective has contributed to a cultural shift that undermines the perceived relevance of the humanities in a world increasingly driven by technological advancement and empirical science. It suggests a critical re-evaluation of what constitutes valuable knowledge and the potential contributions of the humanities to societal development and understanding.

The implications of this trend are profound, as the humanities foster critical thinking, cultural understanding, and ethical deliberation—skills that are vital in today’s complex political and social landscape. As educational policies continue to prioritize STEM fields at the expense of the humanities, the need for a renewed appreciation of the latter becomes increasingly urgent, particularly for fostering a richer, more informed public discourse and encouraging cultural change within the scientific enterprise.