The Humanities as _Paideia_ in Julián Marías

The crisis of the humanities as a field of study is evident both within and outside the discipline, as well as among practitioners of humanistic disciplines and those who simply appreciate the humanities. This crisis is especially pronounced amid the rise of scientism. Given this situation, there is a need to reaffirm the lasting importance of the humanities in education, particularly the role of humanistic disciplines in liberal education. To accomplish this, this paper introduces the core concepts of Julián Marías’s philosophy of the human person, which serves as an entry point for emphasizing the ongoing relevance of the humanities. Using Marías’s philosophical anthropology, I demonstrate how the humanities are fundamentally the paideia of modern education. Accordingly, this paper aims to clarify: (1) what the humanities are and why they are considered the paideia today, (2) the development of the concept of the humanities as a field of study, (3) how Julián Marías’s philosophy deepens our understanding of humanistic disciplines, and (4) the philosophical foundation that supports the study of the humanities, justifying their central role in liberal education.