Humanities are disciplines in the academic fields and are concerned with the human state. This study is achieved through critical and speculative analysis. Humanities include law, ancient and modern languages, literature, religion, philosophy, history, visual and performing arts. Some of the other subjects that are also categorized as humanities include anthropology, technology, communication studies, area studies, linguistics, and cultural studies. However, these additional subjects are at times referred to as social sciences.
Ancient Greece formed the basis for the study of humanities in the West. However, the evolvement of the seven liberal arts took place during Roman times. The seven liberal arts include grammar, logic, rhetoric, geometry, astronomy, arithmetic, and music. The seven subjects constituted a large part of medieval education and they placed a lot of emphasis on humanities as a “way of doing”, or skills.
Classic humanities are concerned with the study of Western academic tradition. This is especially the case concerning such cultures as the classical antiquity that includes the Roman and Ancient Greek cultures. Today, classical studies are regarded as the foundation of the humanities, although the subject was very unpopular in the 20th century. History entails the interpretation and study of the record of societies, humans, and institutions.
Knowledge history is made up of not just historical thinking skills, but also a sound understanding of past events as well. On the other hand, the study of classical and modern languages acts as the cornerstone for the study of modern-day humanities. Although linguistics, that is, the scientific study of languages has been defined as social science, nonetheless, it still plays a pivotal role in the field of humanities. About the law, its study borders on the humanities and the social sciences as well, based on an individual’s research perspective on its effects and objectives. Humanism is about the perception that humans can still live a good life without religious or superstitious beliefs.
Scholars who are involved in the study of the humanities are at times referred to as “humanists”. On the other hand, the term also finds use in the description of humanism’s philosophical position. However, this position has since been faced with a lot of resistance from “antihumanist” scholars. A humanist views the world through reasons, experiences, as well as human values shared by the various human divisions.
They seek to live a purposed life by creating meaning in it. The responsibility and work for the greater and common good of the people. In the Middle Ages, seven arts formed the basis for modern humanities. Currently, humanities have been looked down upon as not important but in the real sense, they are very important. We learn the values that we share as humans universally and the possibility of living a humanity-led life (McClay 35).
Works Cited
McClay, Wilfred M. The Burden and Beauty of the Humanities. Arts Education Policy Review, 111.1 (2010): 33-35.