I had posted that “I personally know Hareidi Rabbanim who have Ph.D.s in such topics as you list above.”
Joseph posted:
“And they didn’t study the secular material they studied “for its own sake.” There was a tachlis to it. “
No, Joseph, the Rabbanim to whom I refer are people that I do know personally, and have discussed the topic with them. I beleive that they tell me the truth when they say that they study the material for its own sake. Of course, you may know these people (whom I have not named) better than they know themselves.
Some people may have a purpose for studying French literature other than simply for the love of the knowledge. Others may do so for the latter reason. Not everyone, and not all Torah Jews are the same.