4Humanities is starting a reference list of publications on the idea, history, role, or other dimensions of “the humanities” and such related concepts as “liberal arts.” Currently early in its evolution, the list will grow over time. (Go to the reference list)

Gathered here are bibliographies compiled by 4Humanities participants and local chapters intended to provide background on public discourse in the humanities, including definitions of the humanities, resources on the humanities “crisis,” readings on emerging models of humanities scholarship and pedagogy, and research on “framing” public debates. (See Guide)

Here are five good, short definitions of the humanities sampled from a variety of sources and more than one nation–something like a starter kit on the humanities (and their overlapping relation with what different countries also call “the liberal arts,” “the arts,” “humanities and arts,” and sometimes also the humanistically-oriented “social sciences”….