Exploring Perspectives: The Humanist
The Humanist examines the full spectrum of human cultures and products, including material objects and structures, languages, literatures, philosophies, religions, thought, and consciousness. Courses that explore the perspective of the Humanist may include close-reading and evaluation of current and historical materials; analyzing concepts and strategies of meaning making of individuals and communities; and addressing ethical problems of being and doing, from multiple points of view, to meaningfully contribute to a shared human experience.
The marquee image at the top of this webpage portrays Wilbur Wildcat performing the "To be, or not to be" speech from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Students in a Literature course might close read the speech to discover how Hamlet's word choices and metaphors reveal his deeply conflicted nature as the main character of a revenge story. Students in a Theatre History course might analyze how different generations have staged Hamlet over the centuries. Students in a Philosophy course might read this moment of the play as a representation of existential angst when Hamlet finally recognizes his individuality.
Whether focusing on the language, on the material objects and structures, or on the ideas of Hamlet, all of these example courses treat Shakespeare's play as a dynamic and revealing artifact of human culture. This shared perspective is what we call Humanist.

How do human experiences differ and/or remain constant across boundaries of time, culture, and space?
How do cultural, linguistic, and social conventions influence consciousness?
How can cultural constructs, social practices, and historical moments be rational, equitable, and/or sustainable?
How can understandings of the past inform our understandings of the present and the future?
What are the meanings and purposes of our lives?

Close reading, critical and contextual analysis
Situating evidence within its cultural, historical, literary, and/or linguistic contexts
Abstract and theoretical reasoning, including theory-based approaches to knowledge
Engaging with the work of other scholars to develop scholarly consensus
Asking questions that push for deeper, more nuanced understanding

Better situate yourself and your culture within the context of humanity as a whole
Broaden and deepen your understanding of humanity and the range of human experiences
Understand the values of knowledge created for non-utilitarian objectives
Grapple with multiple (and often conflicting) viewpoints on the same question or idea
Understand the complicated ways that culture, ideas, things, language, and texts are interconnected