The Comparative Thought and Literature (CTL) minor is designed for students who wish to examine and practice humanistic thinking in order to tackle complex contemporary problems, which no single civilization or discipline alone can solve. The minor provides a broad introduction to the documents and thought of modern culture for all students, from those interested in a general liberal arts preparation to those in one of the university’s pre-professional programs.

Courses in Comparative Thought and Literature are designed for students who wish to explore and practice humanistic thinking in tackling fundamental problems of contemporary existence. How do different traditions negotiate conceptions of personhood, freedom, and collective life? How do we read, write, and live across languages and cultures? Our conception of thought is capacious, including aesthetic and moral philosophy as well as legal and social-political theory. Such openness permits us to incorporate traditional disciplines such as comparative literature and intellectual history while evaluating their historical boundaries.

We offer an innovative and unique program that invites students to study humanistic traditions from around the world and across languages and disciplines, while providing foundational training in aesthetic responsiveness, conceptual thinking, analytical skills, and research methodologies. The course of study brings out the meanings and transformative powers of literary, philosophical, and other cultural forms.