2. To define Humanities; 3. To know the importance of Humanities; 4. To learn the scope of Humanities; 5. To identify what is a creative artist and its role; 6. To enumerate the concept of the Seven (7) Liberal Arts; and 7. To be familiar with the terms used in Humanities Many attempts have been made to answer the fundamental questions that man asks about himself and his life, yet until now it seems that man has not yet found the definite answer to what he really is. His existence becomes more complicated since machines and computers are replacing his traditional functions.
In studying humanities, man learns to be human. Through
humanities man seeks to enrich and enable his early life by uplifting his potentials. He acquires the right behavior towards others: softness, understanding, and proper conduct. In the west, the study of Humanities can be traced to ancient Greece, as the basis of broad education for citizens. During Roman times, the concept of the seven liberal arts evolved, involving grammar, rhetoric and logic (trivium), along with arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music (the quadrivium). These subjects formed a bulk of medieval education with the emphasis being on humanities as skills or “ways of doing.”
A major shift occurred during the renaissance, when humanities
began to be regarded to be studied rather than practiced (i.e., humanities became an integral part of the curriculum), with a corresponding shift away from the traditional fields into areas such as literature and history. In the 20th century, this view was in turn challenged by the postmodernist movement, which sought to redefine humanities in more egalitarian terms suitable for a democratic society. • “Language and literature are considered to be the central topics in humanities, so the impact of electronic communication is of great concern to those in the field”. (Levi, the Humanities Today) The immediacy of modern technology and internet speeds up communication, but may threaten “deferred” forms of communication such as literature and “dumb down” language. The library is also changing rapidly as bookshelves are replaced by computer terminals. Despite the fact that humanities will have to adapt rapidly to these changes, it is unlikely that the traditional forms of arts will be completely abandoned. • The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences. • The humanities include ancient and modern languages, literature, law, history, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts such as music and theatre. The humanities that are also regarded as social sciences include technology, anthropology, area studies, communication studies, cultural studies, and linguistics. • Humanities from the Latin word HUMANUS which means human, cultured and refined. • The term “Humanities” can be traced to ancient Greece as the basis of broad education for citizens. • Is based on the philosophical view of humanism that stresses the dictum (statement of opinion or belief) “Man is the measure of all things”. • Studying Humanities helps students develop skills in communication, problem solving, research and analysis. • It makes the student understand and appreciate artworks in different level or perspectives. • Provides man a thorough knowledge of his history and his cultural tradition. • Helps man to acquire the values and wisdom that are essential for human survival and progress. • Aids man to develop critical thinking which is important in his everyday life by exposing him to varied concepts, ideas and forms that man has created. • Promotes man’s intellectual, social, moral and aesthetic development. Examples:
Modern Scope Early/Ancient Scope
• Arts (Visual & Performing) Math (Algebra)
• Language Chemistry • History Science (Biology) • Philosophy (Theology/Religion) Philosophy (Law) • Music English (Literature) • A Creative Artist is first of all a highly skilled, articulate communicator. A free articulator, in fact. Their ability in and with communication is not confined to one medium or channel of communication. Nor is it confined to a particular style, though there are surely some unifying characteristics that enable identification and branding; though some are masters at emulation, as they should be. • Creative Artists always have more than one creative discipline and medium in which they work. Creative Artists span the gamut of all realities, we have to: reality is actually where we work all the time, we examine, explore all kinds and types of realities. And then we join them together to create new realities. We aspire to and attain the giddy heights of inspired creation and then plummet into the realms of the gutter the next. • None of this is who we are. All of it is who we are. But we are beyond being defined by a simple categorical perspective and endeavoring to define us in such a narrow way is to deny the full rich experience of the reality of who we really are. You see, when we aspire to and attain those giddy heights, and plummet the next to the depths of human depravity; we never lose sight of who we really are. Liberal arts is divided into 7 parts
• Trivium – consists of Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic
• Quadrivium – consists of Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music • Humanism – an approach in study or practice that focuses on human values, concern and dignity which are taken to be of primary importance, as in moral judgment. A cultural and intellectual movement of the renaissance that emphasizes secular concerns as a result of the rediscovery and study of the literature, art, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome. Centers on humans and their values, capacities and worth. • Humanities – The branches of learning (as Philosophy, Arts or Languages) that investigate human constructs and concerns as opposed to natural processes and social relations. • Values – The accepted standards or moral principles of a person or a group. Values are similar to norms in having a moral and regulatory role, but values have a wider significance than norms in going beyond specific situations. Values are viewed as informing norms in different contexts. Worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor, utility or merit. A quality considered worthwhile or desirable. • Skills – Ability to use one’s knowledge effectively in doing something. Proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience. • Critical Thinking – refers to higher-order thinking that questions assumptions. Critical thinking is “thinking about thinking”. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. • Philosophy – The discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline. Critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs. • Liberal Arts – The academic course of instruction at a college intended to provide general knowledge and comprising the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences as opposed to professional or technical subjects. • Liberalism – The state or quality of being liberal. A political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, parliamentary legislatures, governmental assurances of civil liberties and individual rights and non-violent modification of institutions to permit continued individual and social progress. • Digital Age – The period beginning around 1970 and noted for the abundant publication, consumption, and manipulation of information, especially by computers and computer networks. • Modern Age – describes the historical timeline after the middle ages. • Etymology – The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form or meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, identifying its cognates in other languages, and rec • Dictum – Statement of opinion or belief • Aesthetic - is the study of beauty in nature. is a branch of philosophy, a species of value theory or axiology, which is the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste. Aesthetics is closely associated with the philosophy of art. • Depravity - the quality or state of being depraved 1. Why is it important for students to learn Humanities? 2. How can the students make use of Humanities in their field of study? 3. How did humanities evolved and started? 4. What are the scopes of Humanities? 5. Give an example of a major change or shift in Humanities that occurred within the 20th century. Menoy, J. (2014). Introduction to Humanities: A holistic Approach. Books atbp. Publishing Corp. Mandaluyong City. Regadio Jr., C. & Mendoza J. (2013). Art Appreciation: Introducing Reading on Humanities Focus on Philippine Art Scene. Books atbp. Publishing Corp. Mandaluying City. Clores, R. et. al. (2012). Sulyap Sining: Humanities (Art Appreciation). Mutya Publishing House, Malabon City. Marcos, L., Ferianiza, M. Bermudo, P.J. & Yango, A. (2010). Introduction to Humanities: Visual and Performing Arts. Mind Shapers Co, Inc. Pasagui, R. et. al. (2009). Art Appreciation: Looking Beyond (A textbook in Humanities). Mutya Publishing House, Malabon City. www.merriamwebster.com