| THE HUMANITIES
The humanities explore the heart of the human experience by encouraging
reflection on its nature and value through literature, history,
philosophy and the arts. The humanities also encompass time-tested
methods of inquiry--dialogue, historical and logical analysis, critical
interpretation and scholarly investigation.
The specific disciplines of the humanities are usually defined
along familiar academic lines. They include: literature, history,
philosophy, comparative religion, the history, interpretation and
criticism of the arts, archaeology, jurisprudence, linguistics,
modern and classical languages, and areas of the social sciences
(anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, and political science)
that use qualitative, historical, or cultural approaches.
Humanities projects funded by the Maine Humanities Council bring historical,
cultural or ethical perspectives to bear on topics and issues of
interest to our communities. These may take many different forms,
but they have the following characteristics in common. They:
- Engage participants in thinking critically about fundamental
questions of value, purpose, and meaning.
- Promote better understanding of ourselves and others, past
and present.
- Are conducted in a spirit of open and informed inquiry,
providing multiple viewpoints, where applicable.
- Involve partnerships between community organizations,
cultural institutions, and scholars in the humanities.
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