Humanities: Definition and Types

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Definition
Types of humanities
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

There are various academic disciplines that study the human condition such as human genetics and physical anthropology. These disciplines usually use empirical methods of the natural and social sciences to study the human condition. Humanities are also a discipline that helps to study the human condition (Commission on the humanities, 1978, p.215). This essay gives a definition of humanities and the difference between humanities and other modes of human inquiry and expression. In addition, current examples of various types of humanities such as art, music, architecture, philosophy and literature and how these examples reflect on current developments on politics, social economics, and technology is also given.

Definition

Humanities are academic disciplines that analyse human beings behavior and their way of living critically and analytically. There are various examples of humanities which include; language, history, philosophy, religion, performing arts and music. Other subjects such as technology, communication studies, cultural studies and linguistics are sometimes considered as humanities.

What distinguishes humanities from other modes of human inquiry and expression such as human genetics is that humanities studies how human beings, understands their own entities as human beings. Humanities study human beings critically and analytically (Commission on the humanities, 1978, p.215). However, other modes of human inquiry and expression such as human genetics and physical anthropology look at human beings as entities which are chemical, physical and also biological in nature.

Types of humanities

Art: This is a type of humanities that involves drawing and painting. Drawing is a means of making an image on a surface using various tools while painting involves applying of ink on a surface.Examples of current art are carvings. Carvings are done on stone or plastics because of the unavailability of hardwood. Current technology provides tools which are used in carvings. Carvings are used for decoration and therefore they are on demand. Therefore people make money buy selling them to the public (Commission on the humanities, 1978, p.215).
Music: Music as an example of humanities involves the act of sound production and it is a form of performing arts. Currently music production and recording is mostly used. The recorded music is sold by producers to the public and hence they earn and develop economically. Some songs are educative while others are for entertainment. According to the current technology songs are easily recorded and can be listened to or watched in future. Therefore the current technology has contributed to the current form of music. In addition, politics supports song writing and production because the government enacts laws to protect producers such as copyright and also inviting them to present their songs during public occasions.
Literature: It could imply any symbolic record which may involve letters, or images. Book writing is supported by the government. This is because writers are protected by some rights enacted by the government. Book writing is a form of business and it is also a form of enriching the society with knowledge. Current technology of computers has helped in printing of materials.
Philosophy: This is the study of problems that affect human beings on matters such as knowledge, truth, justice, rights, and justification, beauty, wrong and validity (Thomas, 1987, p.4). Constitutions are the current examples of philosophy.They are written to guide people on what is right or wrong and also on their rights. Politics have encouraged people to write constitutions before they can be registered either as an organization or a society.
Architecture: this is a type of humanity that involves both art and engineering. Modern architecture use steel and metal to ensure buildings have a solid structure. The roofs are made of high quality ceramic tiles and windows are made of glass. Sometimes the walls and doors are made of glass. Many People live in aesthetic buildings and also where they fell secured and this has influenced the current architecture. The technology has improved and there are heavy machines for constructing. Government has also influenced modern architecture in that it ensures that buildings constructed mostly in towns are aesthetic.

Conclusion

Humanities is different from human genetics and physical anthropology because it analyses human condition critically while the other disciplines consider man as biological and chemical in nature. The subject has developed and hence has included more subjects such as communication studies, cultural studies and technology. Humanities have been influenced by development in areas such as politics, socioeconomics and technology.

Reference List

Commission on the humanities. (1978).The humanities in American life: report of the commission on the humanities. California: University of California Press.
Thomas. N. (1987).What does it mean? A very short introduction to philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University.

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Humanities: Definition and Types

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