umanistico

Umanistico is an Italian adjective meaning related to humanism or to the humanities. In academic and cultural usage, it designates disciplines, approaches, and curricula that emphasize human culture, languages, literature, philosophy, history, arts, and social thought, with a focus on interpretation, critical analysis, and the understanding of human experience.

Originating from Latin humanisticus, derived from humanus "humane, human," the term historically distinguished the human studies from the natural and formal sciences. In Renaissance Italy and Europe, umanista referred to scholars devoted to studying classical texts and the liberal arts to revive and refine human culture.

Today, studi umanistici or discipline umanistiche describe the humanities in universities and schools: literature, philosophy, history, history of art, archaeology, languages, and related disciplines. The expression also appears in pedagogical contexts to describe curricula that value cultural literacy, linguistic skills, critical inquiry, and reflective analysis.

Contemporary usage often contrasts the humanities (umanistiche) with the sciences (scientifiche), highlighting different methods, epistemologies, and aims. While the scope varies by country and institution, the core idea remains a human-centered approach to knowledge, culture, and expression.