The document discusses reasons for studying the humanities. It states that the humanities allow us to think creatively and critically to gain new insights into various topics. Studying the humanities also adds to our understanding of the world by teaching us about different cultures and history. Finally, the document argues that the humanities provide an ideal foundation for exploring and understanding the human experience by investigating philosophy, learning other languages, and gaining appreciation for other cultures.

1. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
Source: Dr. Reynaldo A. Padilla
1. INSIGHTS INTO EVERYTHING
Through the exploration of the humanities, we learn how
 to think creatively and critically,
 To reason, and
 To ask the proper question
Allow us to gain new insight into everything from poetry and painting to
business models and politics
Humanistic subjects have been at the heart of a liberal arts education since
the Ancient Greeks (sophos, citizens)

2. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
2. UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD
Research into the human experience adds to our knowledge about our
world. Through the work of humanities scholars, we learn about the values of
different cultures, about what goes into the making of art, about how history is
made. Their efforts preserve the great accomplishments of the past, help us to
understand the world we live in, and give us tools to imagine the future.

3. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
3. BRINGING CLARITY TO THE FUTURE
 Humanities continues to provide the ideal foundation for exploring and
understanding the human experience,
 Investigating a branch of philosophy might get you thinking about ethical
questions,
 Learning another language might help you gain an appreciation for the
similarities in different cultures.

4. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
ARGUMENTS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
1. The humanities help us understand others through their languages,
histories and cultures.
2. They foster social justice and equality.
3. The reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual and intellectual
sense of the world.
4. The humanities teach empathy.
5. They teach us to deal critically and logically with subjective, complex,
imperfect information.

5. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
6. They teach us to weigh evidence skeptically and consider more than one
side of every question.
7. Humanities students build skills in writing and critical thinking.
8. The humanities encourage us to think creatively. They teach us to reason
about being human and to ask question about our world.
9. The humanities develop informed and critical citizens. Without the
humanities, democracy could not flourish.