Humanities and Social Sciences
Research the broad topic of the humanities and social sciences, which is a discipline that involves the study of human society and social relationships. Within this discipline, however, the humanities and the social sciences are distinct in their methodology and focus (although there is some overlap). The humanities typically are considered more critical and analytical, dealing with the philosophical question of what makes us human. The social sciences, on the other hand, use a more scientific approach, essentially applying similar methodology as the natural sciences to the study of humans in society.
Scholars consider the humanities to have developed first, starting in ancient Greece and evolving into a topic of study in the 15th century. The social sciences sprang from the Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical movement prevalent in Europe during the 18th century that emphasized rationality, logic, and methodology as applied to the empirical world.
Branches of the humanities include law, languages, philosophy, religion and mythology, international relations, gender and women’s studies, multicultural and regional studies, popular culture, and art and music, while branches of the social sciences include sociology, anthropology, archeology, geography, political science (including politics and government), psychology, communication studies, criminal justice, demographics, library and information science, and economics.
