Humanities

Yo-Yo Ma will deliver the spring 2018 Compton Lecture at MIT. He has been a leading international voice for music as a means to promote cross-cultural understanding and social good.

Yo-Yo Ma to deliver spring 2018 Compton Lecture

Renowned cellist will speak in March on the role of culture in a strong society.

October 30, 2017

MIT philosophy professor Kieran Setiya has a new book, “Midlife: A Philosophical Guide,” published by Princeton University Press. In it, he examines the problems of middle-aged happiness, reaches some unusual conclusions — he thinks we should embrace our regrets — and explores how philosophy can help people find peace of mind.

How philosophy can solve your midlife crisis

MIT professor Kieran Setiya’s book “Midlife” aims to smooth out the rocky road of middle age.

October 2, 2017

“The new museum will be an experimental place," says John Durant, director of the MIT Museum and a faculty member of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. "We are committed to the idea that the MIT Museum can operate along the same principles as the Institute as a whole. We want to try new ideas, test them, and report our findings.”

John Durant plans a new era for the MIT Museum

A new purpose-built museum will be an experimental place for wider conversations.

September 27, 2017

New SHASS faculty members include: (top row, l-r) Martin Beraja, Dave Donaldson, and Amah Edoh; (middle row, l-r) E. J. Green, Simon Jäger, and Eric Klopfer; (bottom row, l-r) Justin Reich, Miriam Schoenfield, and Lisa Parks.

Nine new faculty join the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

The school welcomes a superb group of scholars.

September 25, 2017

"100 percent of MIT undergraduates study the arts and humanities, joining our faculty in addressing some of the largest, most consequential human questions of our time," notes Melissa Nobles, Kenan Sahin dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

Times Higher Education names MIT No. 2 university worldwide for the arts and humanities

Schools of Architecture and Planning; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and several centers are home to the arts and humanities at MIT.

September 18, 2017

2017 Phi Beta Kappa Society inductees (l-r) Abdullah Alsalloum, Rachel Osmundsen, and Nagisa Taxifar show off their certificates of membership.

High (achieving) society

The MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 74 distinguished graduates of the Class of 2017.

September 15, 2017

Longtime MIT professor of humanities A.R. "Pete" Gurney

A.R. Gurney, acclaimed playwright, author, and longtime MIT professor, dies at 86

An MIT humanities and literature faculty member for 36 years, Gurney was known as an outstanding teacher and inspiring mentor.

July 12, 2017

“The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II,” by John W Dower (Haymarket Books)

Is the Pax Americana truly peaceful?

MIT historian John Dower’s latest book decries the militarism of the postwar years.

June 27, 2017

MIT student Neerja Aggarwal directed "Einstein's Dreams" on stage in the spring of 2017.

Featured video: Bringing “Einstein’s Dreams” to life

An MIT student in engineering and theater arts melds her dual passions to bring physics to the stage.

June 20, 2017

Course 21A.157 (The Meaning of Life), examines how a variety of cultural traditions approach the question of how to live with purpose. Here Brother David Vryhof explains the beliefs followed by brothers at the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, a monastery on Memorial Drive.

In search of a meaningful life

Popular MIT anthropology course offers contemplation and dialogue on life's big questions.

June 15, 2017

Left to right: Matthew Nicolai, Dallace Francis, and Christian Argenti, MIT seniors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and members of the fraternity Delta Kappa Epsom, took the MIT History seminar, People and Other Animals, together.

Entering the animal world

In a history seminar, engineering students explore shifting ideas about animal intelligence and human uses of animals throughout the ages.

May 19, 2017

2017 SHASS Infinite Mile Award recipients pose with Dean Melissa Nobles. Left to right: Daniel Irvine, Albert Wang, Luis "Cuco" Daglio, Melissa Nobles, Ana Ludwig, and Barbara Keller.

Melissa Nobles announces recipients of the 2017 SHASS Infinite Mile Awards

Awards presented to five exceptional staff members of the MIT community.

May 12, 2017

Hiromu Nagahara and his new book, “Tokyo Boogie-Woogie: Japan’s Pop Era and Its Discontents,” published by Harvard University Press

Big in Japan

Historian’s new book explores pop music and the transformation of Japanese society.

April 27, 2017

MIT alumni and faculty have a long history of public policy service. Kathleen Hicks PhD ’10 (left) is director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Samuel Rodarte Jr. ’13 is a legislative aide for U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano.

Shaping public policy in the nation's capital

Alumni continue an enduring tradition of MIT service.

April 12, 2017

Introducing acclaimed sociologist Arlie Hochschild to MIT, Catherine Gamon, director of the Sloan Student Life Office said, "Hochschild tries to scale an 'empathy wall' to understand her interviewees’ perspectives on the interplay of politics, business, and culture. To me this fits beautifully with MIT's desire to have an impact, and to bring heart into the equation — mind, hand, and heart."

In MIT visit, sociologist Arlie Hochschild discusses U.S. political divisions

At Mens et Manus America event, Hochschild recommends three pillars of action for finding common ground among U.S. voters.

April 10, 2017

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology - On Campus and Around the world

Browse By

Topics

Departments

Centers, Labs, & Programs

Schools

Topic