Final answer:
The history of humanity is best characterized by a departure from mythos to logos, indicating a shift from supernatural to rational and logical explanations of the world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The textbook sentence in question, "The history of humanity is best characterized by a departure from ________________.", when considering the context provided, is best completed with 'mythos to logos'. This transition represents a shift from a predominance of mythological or supernatural explanations for the world to a more rational, scientific, and logical framework for understanding our reality—essentially, a move from faith-based to reason-based explanations.
Throughout history, particularly during the Enlightenment, there was an increased emphasis on human reason, experience, and empirical evidence as the foundations for knowledge, which is summarized by this departure from mythos to logos. This change reflected an optimistic view of humanity, as characterized by the humanist philosophy which placed human reasoning and sentient experience at the forefront, representing a significant change from previous beliefs that relied on divine or mythological guidance.