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Humanities in Action

Perspectives. Resources. Involvement.

What Are the Humanities?

What do they “do” why are they so important.

Put simply, the humanities help us understand and interpret the human experience, as individuals and societies.

But humanities fields are under threat. Funding for key humanities agencies and programs has been targeted for cuts affecting communities across the country. College and university humanities departments face closures and mergers. More college classes are being taught by contingent faculty members who make too little for teaching too many students.

We believe that everyone can make a difference, and we created the Humanities in Action site for people like you—scholars, teachers, and citizens— to help you connect, learn more, and get involved. The Humanities in Action site features news about the humanities and highlights perspectives from leading humanists on compelling issues ; provides ​​information about public policies affecting humanities research, education, and public programs; and offers resources and ​​ opportunities for you to act.

March 22, 2019

The Humanities and the Future

Our descendants’ lives will be intertwined with advanced technologies—and that will revitalize non-technological disciplines such as philosophy

By Abraham Loeb

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

The humanities are often preoccupied with thinkers of the past, such as the ancient Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. But most of the humans who will ever live will exist in the future, which means that their lives will be intertwined with advanced technologies.

Currently, the number of college students in the humanities is dwindling, and academic advisors often belittle the relevance of liberal arts for the job market relative to more practical disciplines, such as science and technology.

But the heart of the matter is that science and technology aim to assist humans. And the interface between humans and advanced technologies is a frontier where the humanistic perspective is indispensable.

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Three decades ago, I was a fledgling postdoc advised by his experienced mentor that in order to develop a successful career in science I need to specialize in a narrow field and be regarded as the world expert in a particular specialty. Back then, developing a narrow expertise was key to being professional. A maker of leather shoes with rubber soles was supposed to know everything there is to know about crafting leather and rubber into the shape of shoes, with no time left for any peripheral learning.

Fortunately, I did not listen to that old advice, as interdisciplinary perspectives are the carriers of innovation today. And by extension, the future belongs to the incorporation of liberal arts into science and technology. Academic research on the interface between humans and machines will rejuvenate disciplines that had become dormant and link the humanities to our future rather than our past.

A few contexts immediately come to mind. First and foremost, the study of ethics. There are major ethical questions regarding genetic engineering: Which revisions to the genetic making of humans should be engineered? Should we design the qualities of people that we wish society to have?

Another area involves the implications of big data sets: How can we employ the vast information that is collected daily on people, and analyze it for the benefit of psychology and social science? Can we use these data to construct computer-based models that would forecast human behavior to guide policies or political decisions?

Recent developments in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning touch upon fundamental questions in philosophy, such as: What is the meaning of consciousness ? Is there free will ?

There are also existential questions about the purpose of human life: Will robots and AI replace human labor across the board from construction sites to scientific research? How will future economies adjust to a new reality in which humans have less to do? Will humans take a permanent “vacation”, and if so, what will the meaning of their life be if their dignity is not associated with mandatory labor?

And there are fundamental questions about whether human creativity in the arts or sciences is unique or could be reproduced by machines: Will there be a world in which AI is used to create art or make unexpected scientific discoveries? AI is already being programmed to replace medical doctors in assigning prescriptions to patients with well-known symptoms, but should computers also be allowed to decide on medical treatments? And if AI software makes mistakes that harm people’s health, should the software developers be held legally responsible or should “self-learning” algorithms be considered independent from their human creators?

Social networks already bring to the forefront of public debate questions about the privacy of data sets : How should we protect our private lives given the future of information technology? Who should be allowed to access data, and how would we mitigate the impact of the loss of data in the wake of unexpected catastrophes?

It is not difficult to imagine how the ancient Greeks would have taken delight in modern science and technology. There is no doubt that Aristotle would have been fascinated by big bang cosmology. Aristarchus of Samos would have been mesmerized with the latest discoveries of exoplanets. Zeno of Elea would have been intrigued to realize that he can turn on his car with an app using the Apple Watch on his wrist. And Socrates would have been critical of the herd mentality exhibited in social media.

Philosophers, sociologists, psychologists and artists should participate in the future development of technology, so that it will better match human needs and values. Like canaries in a coal mine, humanists have the moral compass to warn us of impending dangers to our future society. They also possess the skill to imagine realities that we should aspire to have before scientists develop them. There is no doubt that the future will be interdisciplinary and that humanists should play a major role in shaping it.

Defining the Humanities Essay

Defining the humanities, cultural event, music as an expression of humanity, comparison of the cultural expressions.

Various definitions have been given to the term humanity. Therefore, humanities are the many characteristics and branches of humanities such as theater, human being, art, culture, literature, food, music and the stories that try to bring out the sense in the world as we see it.

It is a discipline that introduces us into place and ideas that otherwise would not have crossed our minds. To elaborate further, humanities shows how events that took place in the past affect the present and the future, and how a person can evolve from the experience he has gone through and by what he has seen.

Humanities also look into the contributions of people either collectively or individually. An individual may think of the many discipline that humanity has to such as psychology, science and math and others that impact human culture.

“The humanities can be distinguished from other disciplines such as the social sciences, physical and biological because the humanities include the study of human subjects and the study of languages and literatures, the arts, history, and philosophy while all other forms of human inquiry are limited to the study of subjects that are not human (Proctor, 2008)”

These essay aims at bringing out the differences between humanities and the other forms of human inquiry and expressions.

The essay will aim at relating a particular cultural event that took place at a particular point in time and try to explain how the specific cultural event brought to the fore the lessons learnt concerning the humanities, cultural practice, art, style and genius of the period represented.

One of the most important cultural events I have experienced and which relate too is music. By definition, “music an artistic form of sound communication via musical instruments and voice that produce sounds and tones (Shaw, 2010)”. Music has been sung from time immemorial and it is as old as mankind.

The past cultures had music as does the present cultures. Some of the oldest songs were composed in 4 th century and written in cuneiform. By definition, cuneiform is a composition of characters made up of a collection of small wedge-shaped basics that were in use in traditional Persian and Sumerian writing.

“The certainty of how or when the first musical instrument was invented, however, most historians point to early flutes made from animal bones that are at least 37,000 years old (Reich, 2009)”

The music that was played in the late 50’s in Greece represented the humanities or the specific culture of the people of Greece during that era. Therefore, it can be seen that, music as a humanity reflects and mirrors the values and practices held through the life of an individual.

The music played today has undergone dramatic changes from the music that was played 50 years ago. The instruments used have also improved with the use of more modern instrument. The music has also changed with new genre of music coming up.

In the medieval age, only two styles of music were played and they were monophonic and polyphonic music only. From the medieval age, we came to the renaissance period which changed the way songs were composed and sung.

The classic genre of music was practiced in the Baroque era where music writers started composing and singing using various instruments and singing different styles of music. This allowed the artist to tell his story in his own unique way by the use of music.

In the 20 th century, music writers and artists were in a position to use varied instruments which far much sophisticated than instruments used in the medieval era. They make use of computers to change what they want in music, add sound effects and conduct computer work to enhance the sound quality of music.

This period was characterized by the emergence of various styles of music that are widely listened today. The styles include blues, hip-hop, rap, rhythm, rock and roll, gospel among others.

Music was used to express the inner feelings of human beings. There were songs sung during particular periods only to express certain feelings. For example, dirges were sung during funerals to console with the bereaved family. There were war songs that were sung to give the fighters morale to fight.

Music was used a symbol of cultural heritage. Music is conceived through the ear and thus used to express what the human is feeling such as sadness and happiness

The selected form of cultural expression which is music compares to other forms such as literature and storied in that they talked about the issues affecting people at that particular period and how the experiences shaped the future lives. The stories were told by the elderly and passed on to the next generation.

These impacted the present lives. The literature written during this time touched on the contemporary issues affecting people at that time. The literature was written in pamphlets and in scribes while currently it is written in more sophisticated materials such as the computer and laptops.

Therefore, music and literature compare in the sense that they were used to disseminate information that would help shape the lives of people in the future. These cultural expressions have undergone major changes which have made them more refined than in the 19 th century.

Proctor, R. (2008). Defining the Humanities. Indiana : Indiana University Press.

Reich, J. (2009). Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. New York: Cengage Learning.

Shaw, P. (2010). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 29). Defining the Humanities. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-the-humanities/

"Defining the Humanities." IvyPanda , 29 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/defining-the-humanities/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Defining the Humanities'. 29 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Defining the Humanities." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-the-humanities/.

1. IvyPanda . "Defining the Humanities." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-the-humanities/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Defining the Humanities." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-the-humanities/.

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Here are 9 reasons why humanities matter. What’s your number 10?

I didn’t know these things either until I saw the list of winners of the 2013 Digital Humanities Awards and had a good look at an infographic called The Humanities Matter!

There’s research on the impact of the humanities; there’s evidence demonstrating how studying the humanities benefits society, employers and individuals.

I’ll list here nine arguments that the humanities are important. While you read them, try to think of what you would fill in as number 10.

• The humanities 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.
• The humanities teach empathy.
• They teach us to deal critically and logically with subjective, complex, imperfect information.
• And they teach us to weigh evidence skeptically and consider more than one side of every question.
• Humanities students build skills in writing and critical reading.
• The humanities encourage us to think creatively. They teach us to reason about being human and to ask questions about our world.
• The humanities develop informed and critical citizens. Without the humanities, democracy could not flourish.

I believe these claims and I know they are based on solid research. I see much more, too. For example, I think that innovations based on research results in the natural sciences and medicine are more likely to be successful if their implementation is carried out in collaboration with humanists.

But for now, let me just say one more thing. The arguments in the list above are quotes. They come from an exciting infographic put together by some creative researchers working in a whole new field called Digital Humanities.

And that leads me to my 10th reason: If it weren’t for the humanities, we couldn’t have the digital humanities!

What’s your best reason for thinking the humanities are important? If you have one you like, send me a tweet or put it in a comment below, and if I get enough, I’ll include it in a new blog post!

While you’re thinking about that, enjoy a much cooler presentation of the nine reasons the humanities matter — along with many more important numbers, too.

The infographic you see below was made by  Melissa Terras ,  Ernesto Priego ,  Alan Liu ,  Geoff Rockwell ,  Stéfan Sinclair , Christine Hensler, and  Lindsay Thomas  over at 4humanities.org . Enjoy!

One of the problems with tracing arguments such as these is the lack of precision. We start off discussing the humanities, and then we segue into AHSS. Of course the majority of politicians in Westminister have studied AHSS, since PPE is almost a prerequisite to a political career.

Of arguments 1, 2, 4, and 9 above, there are enough counterexamples that I begin to wonder if we do ourselves favours by having examples that aren’t solid. If the above arguments were presented as ‘evidence’ in the social sciences, I can imagine the collective disciplinary eyebrow heading skyward in scepticism and questioning the lack of methodological rigour.

Helen Small’s recent book “The Value of the Humanities” goes through these and other justifications for the humanities, tracing their genealogies, and without finally plumping for one. My sense is that you and she have a similar, cumulative sense of argument, that there is no, one, stand-out, knock-down argument for the humanities, but rather that it’s an ecology of such arguments. The above infographic is, of course, a bit of fun, but it’s a an appeal-to-Buzzfeed defence of the humanities, and we can do better.

It is a bit popularistic, I agree. I think the “new” arguments that deserve careful development include inter-disciplinary perspectives. Why does technological innovation, for example, need to be carried out with the input not only of physicists and chemists, but also French teachers and art historians? What do we mean by “digital humanities” and how is that going to lead to new knowledge and maybe even new applications affecting daily lives? There are many strategies to take. And while I sometimes find political anti-humanities arguments exhausting, I actually think it’s important for everyone to be able to say something sensible about what they’re up to. So … I’ll keep working on this 🙂

Thank you for the idea of making the list.

In addition to that, I think the significance of research in SSH (I do not differentiate them) can be also be justified by the following argument:

The human factor plays a crucial role in solving the grand challenges of mankind (ageing, energy supply, environmental issues, climate change, etc.). That’s why research on human values and behaviour is vital.

The biggest problem in the world is lack of mutual understanding among people, social groups, religions, nations. SSH researchers are specialists in that.

All modern professions are based on interaction between people. Trade, services, manufacturing, administration, education, and personal life benefit from the ability to conduct proper communication. Even small progress in that may lead to big results.

Arto Mustajoki Dean of the Faculty of Arts Helsinki University

The humanities as disciplines of study have their own intrinsic value. Apple, is perhaps, one of the best market/commercial examples of how the humanities permeate all aspects of human life. Apple’s ability to evolve and dominate the markets is largely because of its understanding of the human aspect of engaging with technologies, being able to predict and teach the consumer what s/he wants from his/her experience with their device. There’d be a lot fewer conflicts in the world if we all were in better touch with our humanity! Great posting!

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This article was originally published on Curt Rice - Science in Balance . Read the original article .

Insight – Charles Sturt University

Why we still need to study the humanities

The story of us – Homo sapiens – is intriguing and complex. We’re unique creatures living in a rapidly changing world and we continue to face new challenges and opportunities. The study of humans, and all we’ve done, has always been of value. But studying the humanities now is probably more important than ever before!

We chatted with Charles Sturt University’s Jared van Duinen, who’s been teaching humanities for more than 15 years, and asked: what exactly are the humanities and why is it so important to study them in the 21 st century?

So, what are the humanities ?

First things first. When you sign up to learn about humanities, what sorts of topics will you study?

“Well, traditionally, the humanities are those disciplines that deal with human interaction, society and how humans get along in society. So think history, sociology, philosophy, politics, English literature and Indigenous studies.”

Why is it so important to study humanities?

Learning about ourselves – through the various humanities – helps us to create a better world.

“It’s the human in humanities that is worth studying. Humanities can tell us about ourselves, how we interact and get along and why we sometimes don’t!”

“Studying the humanities helps us to better understand who we are, our identity as a people, a society and a culture, and how to organise our societies so we can achieve our goals.

“Importantly, the study of humanities is a wonderful way of exploring our Charles Sturt ethos of Yindyamarra Winhanganha.

“Obviously STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – has a role to play in creating a world worth living in. But the study of humanities can help create a better world, just as much, if not more so, than scientific and technological innovation.”

Tackling the world’s issues

Jared believes that understanding the humanities can help you deal with all sorts of issues and problems facing the world. Big, small and ‘wicked’ ones! How? By taking you behind the human scene, giving you an insight into some really valuable information, and equipping you with a unique set of skills.

• History. Studying the past helps us understand where we’ve come from and learn lessons to help us deal with the future.  
• English literature helps us explore the great themes of human interaction and better understand each other.
• Sociology helps us to understand human behaviour, culture and the workings of society.
• Philosophy helps us to think well, clearly, ethically and logically.   
• Politics. Learning about political processes and their impacts will help us understand how social and political change occurs.
• Indigenous studies is especially important because Australia has an Indigenous population. If we’re trying to create a world worth living in, a fuller understanding of the perspective of our Indigenous population is essential.

A practical reason to learn about the humanities – the ultimate skill set!

The other super valuable reason to study humanities is more practical. Studying humanities will give you knowledge and skills that you can use all throughout your working life! And grads who study in this field are catching the eye of more and more employers.  

“People who study these disciplines are really important to employers. They gain these important, sought-after skill sets:

• effective communication
• critical thinking
• creative thinking
• emotional intelligence
• working well in teams
• cultural understanding
• problem solving.

“Humanities grads have always had these skills in abundance, but for a long time these skills were disregarded or overlooked because they were generic. They didn’t speak to a particular vocation.

“But the world of work is changing, becoming more unpredictable. It’s suggested that a lot of graduates coming out of uni now will change careers five to seven times. So those more well-rounded, transferable or soft skills you gain from studying history, philosophy or English literature will really become important. Having them is now seen as a strength because you can carry them from one occupation to your next. And recent studies highlight that these types of soft skills – the ones humanities graduates gain – are what helps them land jobs. 

“Employers say these skills matter. They can teach technical knowledge, but they don’t always have the time or know-how to teach employees these vital soft skills. They look for employees who have these skills well-honed and are ready to work.”

Studying humanities gives you a swag of soft or transferable skills. That means you’ll be the employee who is more flexible. You can pivot from one role to another and adapt faster to changing roles. You become an asset. Now – and definitely into the future! 

What jobs are there in humanities?

So, guess you want to know what sort of career you could go into? Studying humanities with Charles Sturt can really take you places – even if you’re not sure where you want to go just yet.

What sort of jobs, you ask?

• Public service – in local, state and federal government. (History grads often end up in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade!)
• Non-governmental organisations, not-for-profit groups and advocacy groups
• Corporate sector – management and marketing, publishing and media
• Social work
• Policy work

“Studying humanities through our revitalised Bachelor of Arts allows you to study a wide range of disciplines. And that’s especially ideal for those who aren’t quite sure what career path they’ll go down. Those who don’t necessarily know what job they do want, but know they want to study.”

But what about the rise of job automation. How will studying humanities protect you from losing a job to a robot? It all leads back to those very special skills that you’ll build!

“With the increasing automation of many industries, those skills that are resistant to automation, such as critical thinking, cultural understanding, and creative problem solving, are going to be in greater demand.”

Set yourself up for success – now and in the future!

Want to explore the humanities and build a degree that’s meaningful to you and sets you up for career success? Keen to develop the ultimate soft skill set that will help get your first job – and your second and third and fourth? Check out our Bachelor of Arts and let’s get to work!

Bachelor of Arts CRICOS code: 000649C

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5.5: Rhetorical Appeals- Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined

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• Terri Pantuso, Emilie Zickel, & Melanie Gagich
• Texas A&M Univesrity

Rhetoric, as the previous sections have discussed, is the way that authors use and manipulate language in order to persuade an audience. Once we understand the rhetorical situation out of which a text is created (why it was written, for whom it was written, by whom it was written, how the medium in which it was written creates certain constraints, or perhaps freedom of expression), we can look at how all of those contextual elements shape the author’s creation of the text.

We can look first at the classical rhetorical appeals which are the three ways to classify an author’s intellectual, moral, and emotional approaches to getting the audience to react in the manner in which the author may have intended.

Rhetorical Appeals

In composition studies, the term rhetorical appeals refers to the use of ethos, pathos, and logos. These are classical Greek terms dating back to Aristotle who is traditionally viewed as the creator of rhetoric. To be rhetorically effective (and thus persuasive), an author must engage the audience in a variety of compelling ways which involves carefully choosing how to craft their argument so that the intended outcome is achieved. Often that outcome occurs when the audience agrees with the argument or point being presented. Aristotle defined these modes of engagement and gave them the terms that we still use today: logos, pathos, and ethos.

Logos: Appeal to Logic

Logic. Reason. Rationality. Logos is brainy and intellectual, cool, calm, collected, objective.

When an author relies on logos, it means that they are using logic, careful structure, and objective evidence to appeal to the audience. Objective evidence is anything that can be proven with statistics or other facts via more than one source. Oftentimes that evidence has been validated by more than one authority in the field of study.

For example, if Dr. Smith was trying to convince her students to complete their homework, she might explain that she understands everyone is busy and they have other classes (non-biased), but that completing their homework will help them get a better grade on their test (explanation). She could add to this explanation by providing statistics showing the number of students who failed and didn’t complete their homework versus the number of students who passed and did complete their homework (factual evidence). This is an example of logos employed for the purposes of argument and persuasion.

Logical appeals rest on rational modes of thinking , such as:

• Comparison: a comparison between one thing (with regard to your topic) and another, similar thing to help support your claim. It is important that the comparison is fair and valid – the things being compared must share significant traits of similarity.
• Cause/effect thinking: you argue that X has caused Y, or that X is likely to cause Y to help support your claim. Be careful with the latter – it can be difficult to predict that something “will” happen in the future.
• Deductive reasoning: starting with a broad, general claim/example and using it to support a more specific point or claim (picture an hourglass where the sands gather in the middle)
• Inductive reasoning: using several specific examples or cases to make a broad generalization (consider the old question of “if your friend jumped off of a bridge, would you” to make the sweeping claim that all young people are easily persuaded to follow the crowd)
• Analogical reasoning: moves from one particular claim/example to another, seemingly sequential (sometimes this line of reasoning is used to make a guilt by association claim)
• Exemplification: use of many examples or a variety of evidence to support a single point
• Elaboration: moving beyond just including a fact, but explaining the significance or relevance of that fact
• Coherent thought: maintaining a well-organized line of reasoning; not repeating ideas or jumping around

Pathos: Appeal to Emotions

When an author relies on pathos, it means that they are trying to tap into the audience’s emotions to get them to agree with the author’s claim. An author using pathos appeals wants the audience to feel something: anger, pride, joy, rage, or happiness. For example, many of us have seen the ASPCA commercials that use photographs of injured puppies, or sad-looking kittens, and slow, depressing music to emotionally persuade their audience to donate money. This is a classic example of the use of pathos in argument.

Pathos-based rhetorical strategies are any strategies that get the audience to “open up” to the topic, the argument, or to the author through an emotional connection. Emotions can make us vulnerable and an author can use this vulnerability to get the audience to believe that their argument is a compelling one.

Pathos appeals might include:

• Expressive descriptions of people, places, or events that help the reader to feel or experience those events
• Vivid imagery of people, places or events that help the reader to feel like they are seeing those events
• Sharing personal stories that make the reader feel a connection to, or empathy for, the person being described
• Using emotion-laden vocabulary as a way to put the reader into that specific emotional mindset (what is the author trying to make the audience feel? and how are they doing that?)
• Using any information that will evoke an emotional response from the audience. This could involve making the audience feel empathy or disgust for the person/group/event being discussed, or perhaps connection to or rejection of the person/group/event being discussed.

When reading a text, try to locate where the author is trying to convince the reader by strictly using emotions because, if used to excess, pathos appeals can indicate a lack of substance or emotional manipulation of the audience. If the only way in which an author can persuade the reader is by making him/her sad or angry, does that make for a solid, valid argument?

Ethos: Appeal to Values/Trust

Appeals using ethos are typically two faceted focusing on audience values and authorial credibility/character.

On the one hand, when an author makes an ethical appeal, they are attempting to tap into the values or ideologies that the audience holds. Examples include patriotism, tradition, justice, equality, dignity for all humankind, self-preservation, or other specific social, religious or philosophical values (Christian values, socialism, capitalism, feminism, etc.). These values can sometimes feel very close to emotions, but they are felt on a social level rather than only on a personal level. When an author evokes the values that the audience cares about as a way to justify or support their argument, we classify that as ethos. The audience will feel that the author is making an argument that is “right” (in the sense of moral “right”-ness, i.e., My argument rests upon the values that matter to you. Therefore, you should accept my argument ). This first part of the definition of ethos, then, is focused on the audience’s values.

On the other hand, this sense of referencing what is “right” in an ethical appeal connects to the other sense of ethos, the author. Ethos that is centered on the author revolves around two concepts: the credibility of the author and their character.

Credibility of the speaker/author is determined by their knowledge and expertise in the subject at hand. For example, if you are learning about Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, would you rather learn from a professor of physics or a cousin who took two science classes in high school thirty years ago? It is fair to say that, in general, the professor of physics would have more credibility to discuss the topic of physics than your cousin. To establish their credibility, an author may draw attention to who they are or what kinds of experience they have with the topic being discussed as an ethical appeal (i.e., Because I have experience with this topic – and I know my stuff! – you should trust what I am saying about this topic ). Some authors do not have to establish their credibility because the audience already knows who they are and that they are credible.

Character is another aspect of ethos that is different from credibility because it involves personal history and sometimes personality traits. A person can be credible but lack character or vice versa. For example, in politics, sometimes the most experienced candidates – those who might be the most credible candidates – fail to win elections because voters do not accept their character. Politicians take pains to shape their character as leaders who have the interests of the voters at heart. The candidate who successfully proves to the voters (the audience) that they have the type of character that they can trust is more likely to win.

Thus, ethos comes down to trust. How can the author get the audience to trust him or her so that they will accept their argument? How can the author make himself or herself appear as a credible speaker who embodies the character traits that the audience values?

In building ethical appeals, we may see authors:

• Referring either directly or indirectly to the values that matter to the intended audience (so that the audience will trust the speaker)
• Using language, phrasing, imagery, or other writing styles common to people who hold those values, thereby “talking the talk” of people with those values (again, so that the audience is inclined to trust the speaker)
• Referring to their experience and/or authority with the topic (and therefore demonstrating their credibility)
• Referring to their own character, or making an effort to build their character in the text

When reading, you should always think about the author’s credibility regarding the subject as well as their character. Here is an example of a rhetorical move that connects with ethos: when reading an article about abortion, the author mentions that she has had an abortion. That is an example of an ethical move because the author is creating credibility via anecdotal evidence and first person narrative. In a rhetorical analysis project, it would be up to you, the analyzer, to point out this move and associate it with a rhetorical strategy.

When Writers Misuse Logos, Pathos, or Ethos, Arguments can be Weakened

Above, we defined and described what logos, pathos, and ethos are and why authors may use those strategies. Sometimes, using a combination of appeals leads to a sound, balanced, and persuasive argument. It is important to understand, though, that using rhetorical appeals does not always lead to a sound, balanced argument. In fact, any of the appeals could be misused or overused. When that happens, arguments can be weakened.

Using a social media platform, find a topic that is trending for today and create an argument using ethos, pathos, and logos for that topic.

Practice Activity

The original version of this chapter contained H5P content. You may want to remove or replace this element.

This section contains material from:

Gagich, Melanie and Emilie Zickel. “Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined.” In A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing , by Melanie Gagich and Emilie Zickel. Cleveland: MSL Academic Endeavors. Accessed July 2019. https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/chapter/rhetorical-strategies-building-compelling-arguments/ Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

Being Human

What Is Arts And Humanities? A Comprehensive Overview 

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The broad range of disciplines under the arts and humanities field might leave many wondering, “What is arts and humanities?” 

Arts and humanities are critical components of human expression and culture, encompassing everything from literature to visual arts. 

The two fields are essential in helping us understand the world around us and ourselves as human beings. 

Since arts and humanities have a vast range of subjects, it is natural for you to be curious to learn more about them. 

Today, we will delve into the meaning and significance of arts and humanities, explore the interconnectedness of the two and discuss why they matter in today’s society. 

So, What Is Arts And Humanities? 

Arts and humanities are two fields of study that explore human culture, creativity, and expression. Arts deals with creating and expressing ideas through visuals such as paintings and performances such as dance. 

On the other hand, humanities encompass the study of human culture and society through; literature, language, philosophy, history, and other related disciplines.  

Arts is a vast field of study encompassing a wide range of disciplines, all concerned with the creative expression of human imagination. 

Art disciplines, at their core, try to explore how people interact and communicate with the world around them. These disciplines include: 

Visual art is one of the most prominent areas of art that include; photography, painting, sculpture, and other forms of two/three-dimensional artwork. Visual arts allow us to explore different techniques and styles of expressing ourselves. 

It also allows us to appreciate how artists use their creative abilities to communicate their ideas and perspectives. 

Performing Art

Performing art is another important area of art that encompasses dance, music, theater, and any other form of live performance. Through performing art, we can explore how humans express themselves through sound, movement, and storytelling. 

These art forms offer a powerful medium for communication and expression and are an essential part of cultures around the world. 

Literary Art 

Literary art is a written expression of art, such as poetry and fiction. We can explore different ideas, themes, and perspectives through literature and appreciate how writers use language to express their deepest thoughts and ideas. 

Significance Of Arts

Art plays a vital role in shaping our understanding of the world. Through art, we can explore different perspectives, communicate new ideas and emotions, and foster empathy and understanding between different cultures. 

Art is a significant part of our heritage and cultural identity. It offers a window into the history and traditions of different societies.

Therefore, other ethnic societies can foster a sense of belonging through art connected to their ancestors. 

The humanities is another broad field of study closely related to the arts. However, humanities encompasses many disciplines concerned with understanding the human experience. 

At the core of humanities, it explores the history, culture, literature, and philosophy that shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. 

Language And Literature 

Another crucial area of humanities is language and literature. Through language study, we can understand how communication shapes our relationship with others and our understanding of the world. 

Literature provides an open window into the human experience. Through it, we can explore many universal ideas and themes as seen in the eyes of different cultures and societies. 

Philosophy is a discipline of humanities that looks into the fundamental questions governing the existence of humans. It encompasses the nature of reality, life’s meaning, and knowledge’s limits. 

Through thoroughly examining these questions, philosophers can seek a richer understanding of our place in the world. Therefore, we can establish new ways to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. 

Philosophy shapes our way of life. A great philosopher named Aristotle idealized the principles of deductive reasoning that apply to a logical argument based on two or more propositions assumed to be true before arriving at a conclusion. 

This way of thinking spanned every known field of science and has formed the basis for arriving at scientific conclusions. 

Religion And Culture

Religion and culture are also essential humanities areas. Through studying religion, we understand how different belief systems shape our understanding of the world and how they impact society. 

On the other hand, culture gives us a deep understanding of how people express themselves and shape their communities. 

History is one of the key areas of humanities, and it explores the past to understand our position in the present better and prepare us for the future. 

Through the study of people, ideas, and events that have shaped our world, historians can provide a context on contemporary issues. Understanding the past is critical in shaping our societies and building a better future. 

Interconnectedness Of Arts And Humanities

Even though arts and humanities are often seen as separate disciplines, they are deeply interconnected. 

Studying either art can provide deep insights into humanities and vice versa. Here are some of the interconnectedness of arts and humanities: 

1. They Seek To Understand Human Experience

Both arts and humanities seek to understand and interpret human experience at their very core. Arts incorporate various forms of expression, such as music, visual arts, and theater, to explore multiple human conditions and develop a deep meaning. 

Humanities focus more on studying language, human culture, and society, trying to understand how we create and share meaning. 

Interconnectedness can be seen in the study of literature, which is an art form and a subject of study within the humanities. 

Literature allows us to gain cultural and historical contexts in which it was produced. Therefore, it enhances our understanding of those times’ social and political issues. 

Nonetheless, reading and interpreting literature is an artistic endeavor as we use experiences to garner meaning from texts. 

2. Societal Role

Arts and humanities are also interconnected by their roles in society. Both fields significantly contribute to our collective heritage and offer us a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. 

They also challenge, transform, and inspire society, enhancing a thriving civilization. For example, the arts can raise awareness about social and political issues, while the humanities provide insights into their complexities. 

3. They Intersect Interdisciplinary Fields

Arts and humanities often intersect interdisciplinary fields such as cultural, media, and gender studies. The fields combine insights from disciplines to explore complex social and cultural issues in greater depth. 

4. Historical Context

The study of history is a field within humanities that provides context for understanding the social and cultural environment where artistic movements emerged.

For example, by exploring the social and political climate evident in the 1960s, we can understand the messages expressed in literature and music at that time. 

5. Social Commentary

At many times artistic expression engages with social and political issues, providing a lens through which we can examine and critique society. 

Humanities offer tools for analyzing and interpreting the messages conveyed through art. Therefore, we can garner more profound insights into the human experience.  

Importance Of Arts And Humanities In Today’s Society 

Some of the importance of arts and humanities in today’s society include: 

1. Self-Expression 

Through the different arts and humanities disciplines, humans can express their emotions and different perspectives of their ideas. 

Self-expression is an important aspect that allows new technology development and human civilization to thrive. 

2. Explore Different Experiences

We can explore different aspects of human experiences through literature, art, and music. This discipline helps us foster empathy and understanding and build better community interactions. Better community interactions promote peace and development in society. 

3. Communication 

Arts and humanities offer a powerful means of communication, allowing us to express ideas and emotions that might be difficult to express through words alone. 

For example, art can communicate thoughts and emotions in a way that exceeds language and cultural barriers. 

4. Shaping Our Cultural Identity

Arts and humanities are the backbone of shaping our cultural heritage and identity. They allow us to explore and appreciate the history and tradition of various societies and cultures and even celebrate the richness and diversity of human experiences. 

Through it, humans can build a sense of belonging to their communities and foster a deeper appreciation for the world around us. 

5. Promotes Creativity And Innovation 

Arts and Humanities are vital as they promote creativity and innovation within the community. They motivate us to think outside the box and develop new ideas and perspectives that might lead to discoveries. 

Additionally, we can develop new ways of thinking and forms of expression necessary when shaping our world’s future. 

We could use philosophical ways of thinking to solve scientific problems enabling us to solve different issues affecting our society today.  

6. Prevent Past Mistakes

Arts and humanities connect us with our history us human beings. By reflecting on our pasts, we can correct our mistakes and prevent history from repeating itself. Nonetheless, history is a road map that shows where we come from and where we are heading. 

Therefore, we can spend more time following the same direction for the greater good of society, hence living more fulfilling lives.  

Conclusion 

The question of what is arts and humanities cannot be fully answered with a single definition, as the two fields encompass a wide range of creative and intellectual pursuits. 

They shape our understanding of human culture and the expression necessary to appreciate the world around us. 

By studying arts and humanities, we can better understand ourselves and our position in the world. All in all, arts and humanities are crucial in enriching our lives, helping us appreciate the human experience’s richness and diversity. 

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Essay on Humanity

500 words essay on humanity.

When we say humanity, we can look at it from a lot of different perspectives. One of the most common ways of understanding is that it is a value of kindness and compassion towards other beings. If you look back at history, you will find many acts of cruelty by humans but at the same time, there are also numerous acts of humanity. An essay on humanity will take us through its meaning and importance.

Importance of Humanity

As humans are progressing as a human race into the future, the true essence of humanity is being corrupted slowly. It is essential to remember that the acts of humanity must not have any kind of personal gain behind them like fame, money or power.

The world we live in today is divided by borders but the reach we can have is limitless. We are lucky enough to have the freedom to travel anywhere and experience anything we wish for. A lot of nations fight constantly to acquire land which results in the loss of many innocent lives.

Similarly, other humanitarian crisis like the ones in Yemen, Syria, Myanmar and more costs the lives of more than millions of people. The situation is not resolving anytime soon, thus we need humanity for this.

Most importantly, humanity does not just limit to humans but also caring for the environment and every living being. We must all come together to show true humanity and help out other humans, animals and our environment to heal and prosper.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Great Humanitarians

There are many great humanitarians who live among us and also in history. To name a few, we had Mother Teresa , Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana and more. These are just a few of the names which almost everyone knows.

Mother Teresa was a woman who devoted her entire life to serving the poor and needy from a nation. Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian poet who truly believed in humanity and considered it his true religion.

Similarly, Nelson Mandela was a great humanitarian who worked all his life for those in needs. He never discriminated against any person on the basis of colour, sex, creed or anything.

Further, Mahatma Gandhi serves as a great example of devoting his life to free his country and serve his fellow countrymen. He died serving the country and working for the betterment of his nation. Thus, we must all take inspiration from such great people.

The acts and ways of these great humanitarians serve as a great example for us now to do better in our life. We must all indulge in acts of giving back and coming to help those in need. All in all, humanity arises from selfless acts of compassion.

Conclusion of the Essay on Humanity

As technology and capitalism are evolving at a faster rate in this era, we must all spread humanity wherever possible. When we start practising humanity, we can tackle many big problems like global warming, pollution , extinction of animals and more.

FAQ of Essay on Humanity

Question 1: What is the importance of humanity?

Answer 1: Humanity refers to caring for and helping others whenever and wherever possible. It means helping others at times when they need that help the most. It is important as it helps us forget our selfish interests at times when others need our help.

Question 2: How do we show humanity?

Answer 2: All of us are capable of showing humanity. It can be through acknowledging that human beings are equal, regardless of gender, sex, skin colour or anything. We must all model genuine empathy and show gratitude to each other and express respect and humility.

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Guest Essay

The Next Frontier? Philosophy in Space.

By Joseph O. Chapa

Dr. Chapa is a U.S. Air Force officer and the author of “Is Remote Warfare Moral?”

The window to apply to be a NASA astronaut — a window that opens only about every four years — closes this month, on April 16. Though I’ve submitted an application, I don’t expect to make the cut.

The educational requirements for the astronaut program are clear: Applicants must possess at least a master’s degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), a doctorate in medicine or a test pilot school graduate patch. Though I have a Ph.D., it’s in philosophy. (And though I’m an Air Force pilot, I’m not a test pilot.)

I hesitate to tell NASA its business. But I think its requirements are closing the astronaut program off from important insights from the humanities and social sciences.

Of course, the requirement for astronauts to have technical training makes some intuitive sense. NASA was founded in 1958 “to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the earth’s atmosphere.” Who better to solve flight problems than scientists and engineers? What’s more, NASA’s space missions have long conducted science experiments to learn how plant and animal life behaves in the far-flung emptiness between us and the moon.

But the need for STEM in space might be waning — just as the need for humanities and the social sciences waxes. After all, the “problems of flight” that once tethered us to this planet have largely been solved, thanks in no small part to all those scientist and engineer astronauts who blazed the trail to space.

By contrast, the future of our relationship with the cosmos — a colony on the moon? Humans on Mars? Contact with intelligent alien life? — will require thoughtful inquiry from many disciplines. We will need sociologists and anthropologists to help us imagine new communities; theologians and linguists if we find we are not alone in the universe; political and legal theorists to sort out the governing principles of interstellar life.

Naturally, some scholars can study these topics while still earthbound. But so can many of today’s astronauts, who often end up working on projects unrelated to their academic training. The idea behind sending people with a wider array of academic disciplines into the cosmos is not just to give scholars a taste of outer space, but also to put them in fruitful conversation with one another.

My own discipline, philosophy, may be better suited for this kind of exploration than some might think. To be sure, much philosophy can be done from an armchair. Descartes arrived at his famous conclusion, “I think, therefore, I am,” while warming himself by the fire and, as he noted, “wearing a winter dressing gown.”

But some of the greatest philosophical breakthroughs occurred only because their authors had firsthand experience with extreme and uncomfortable conditions. We might not have the Stoic philosophy of Epictetus had he not faced the hardship of slavery in Nero’s court. We might not have Thomas Hobbes’s “Leviathan” (and his principle of the “consent of the governed,” so central to the American experiment), but for his flight from the English Civil War. And we might not have Hannah Arendt’s insights on the “banality of evil” had she not attended the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a chief architect of the Holocaust.

Not all philosophers who want to learn what it means to be human in this vast and expanding universe need to experience living in space. But perhaps some of us should.

Throughout the history of Western philosophy, space has often served as stand-in for life’s deepest truths. Plato thought that the things of this world were mere images of true reality, and that true reality existed in the heavens beyond. What inspired admiration and awe in Immanuel Kant was not just the moral law within all of us but also the “starry heavens above.” The Platos and Kants of today are in a position to take a much closer look at those very heavens.

In general, the work of philosophy is to ask, “And suppose this proposition is right, what then?” When faced with a proposition — say, “The mind and body are separable,” or “One must always act to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number” — the philosopher takes another step and asks, “What are the implications of such a view?”

Though Earth has been our only home, it may not be our home forever. What are the implications of that proposition? What might that mean for our conception of nationhood? Of community? Of ourselves and our place in the world? This would be the work of space philosophers.

These days, unfortunately, the prestige of STEM continues to eclipse that of the social sciences and humanities. It seems unlikely that NASA will buck this trend.

That would be bad news for me, personally — but I think also for humanity at large. One day we may all echo Jodie Foster’s character in the sci-fi movie “Contact . ” When the mysteries of space-time were unfurled before her, all she could manage to say was, “They should have sent a poet.”

Joseph O. Chapa ( @JosephOChapa ) is a U.S. Air Force officer and the author of “Is Remote Warfare Moral?”

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