humanitas

Humanitas is a Latin term derived from humanus, meaning human. In classical usage, it signified humanity or the condition of being human, and also denoted refinement, civility, and education in humane letters—an cultivated, humane way of life associated with civilization and good manners.

In ancient Latin literature, humanitas carried both ethical and cultural weight. It encompassed humane treatment of others, generous conduct, and the manners expected of a civilized person. Over time the idea came to be linked with education and culture as paths to moral and civic virtue.

The term gained prominence again during the Renaissance as part of the revival of classical learning. The studia humanitatis—grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, and moral philosophy—were promoted as the core curriculum for shaping virtuous and capable citizens. Leading figures such as Petrarch, Coluccio Salutati, and Leonardo Bruni helped articulate humanitas as a program of education aimed at renewing society through classical wisdom and humane virtue.

In contemporary usage, humanitas remains a broad, often philosophical notion of humaneness and humanity. It is associated with the humanities as a field of study, and with concerns for human welfare, dignity, and culture. The term also appears as the name of cultural, educational, or philanthropic organizations in various countries, reflecting its enduring emphasis on human-centered values and the cultivation of humane understanding.