“Humanities” encompasses a group of academic disciplines – history, English, philosophy, art, theology, and more. To study the humanities is to embark on a wide-ranging inquiry into the history of human experience and to attempt through critical and empathetic thinking to make sense of human life. In this seminar-style course, students will interrogate classic and contemporary thinkers as they contemplate an array of topics, from justice to morality, identity, beauty and the nature of knowledge, and more. Texts and topics vary from year to year and instructor to instructor. (Previous authors have included Aristotle, Confucius, De Beauvoir, Baldwin, and Nussbaum, to name a few.) Class discussion is crucial to this course, and you will hone your ability to listen fruitfully and speak with conviction and clarity. You will also write analytical and critical pieces across several genres. Most importantly, you will learn to engage in the most difficult work of life: caring about the world around you, trying to do right by others, reflecting on your actions, and doing good.