Final answer:
Humanism is a scholarly field that focuses on humanity's potential and emphasizes the study of the humanities, such as literature, rhetoric, and moral philosophy, to foster self-improvement and societal benefit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of Humanism, particularly during the Renaissance, is essential to understanding the shift in thought from a primarily theocentric worldview to one that placed humans at the center of intellectual pursuit. Humanism emphasized the dignity, potential, and worth of the individual, and encouraged the revival of classical learning as a means to foster self-improvement and civic responsibility.
As a scholarly pursuit, Humanism needed a multidisciplinary approach involving the study of the humanities, with a focus on grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy. The movement, often associated with Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, highlighted human achievements and rational thought, and maintained an optimistic view of human nature. Unlike the prevalent Christian doctrine of the time, which saw humans as inherently sinful, Humanism posited that humans were good by nature. It also encouraged the betterment of society through the cultivation of knowledgeable and eloquently-spoken individuals.