Mikhail Epstein Proposes Techno-Humanities Manifesto in ARTMargins Online

In March 2006, Mikhail Epstein published a manifesto titled "Towards the Techno-Humanities" on ARTMargins Online. The Atlanta-based scholar questioned whether the humanities should remain purely academic or develop practical applications similar to how technology extends natural sciences and politics extends social sciences. Epstein argued that while technology transforms what natural sciences study and politics transforms social science subjects, the humanities lack a corresponding transformative activity. His manifesto challenged established disciplinary classifications and methodologies, suggesting the creative aspect of humanities deserves recognition. The piece appeared as part of ARTMargins Online's articles section, presenting a conceptual framework that positions the humanities as potentially active and constructive rather than solely scholarly. Epstein's schema proposed filling this gap with what he termed the "techno-humanities," though the full development of this third line remains incomplete in the provided excerpt.