Humanities

Humanities refers to the academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Middle Ages, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the time. Today, the humanities are more frequently contrasted with natural, and sometimes social sciences, as well as professional training.

The humanities use methods that are primarily critical, or speculative, and have a significant historical element—as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences. The humanities include ancient and modern languages, literature, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts such as music and theatre. The humanities that are also regarded as social sciences include history, anthropology, area studies, communication studies, cultural studies, law and linguistics.

History

The history of the humanities is the history of human thought. It is the record of human creativity, expressed in language and symbols. The humanities have been part of the human experience for millennia. They have shaped and been shaped by society, reflecting and influencing the values, beliefs, and aspirations of individuals and cultures.

Importance

The humanities play a crucial role in the overall development of an individual as they teach us to analyze critically and think creatively. They help us understand others through their languages, histories and cultures. They foster social justice and equality. And they reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual and intellectual sense of the world.

See also

• Philosophy
• Literature
• Religion
• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• History
• Anthropology
• Area Studies
• Communication Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Law
• Linguistics

References

Humanities Resources
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