Humanities and Sciences

Modern technological advances have resulted in increased demand for scientific courses and a corresponding decrease in demand for humanities courses. Humanities are disciplines that explore human culture and the influences that culture has on human sustenance. Among them are sociology and philosophy, among many others. Humanities, in general, investigate daily interactions between people and the repercussions of such relationships on society. It is a discipline that investigates the political, social, and economic aspects of a certain community. Alternatively, sciences are a set of academic disciplines which systematically study the physical and natural world by using specific methodological frameworks. Some of the major methods engaged in sciences include experimentation and observation. Human sustenance depends on both humanities and sciences. Essentially, one cannot exist without the other. The two disciplines complement each other. Science ensures that innovation is sustained while humanities serves the purpose of maintaining cohesion and improving the quality of life for the many individuals who are involved in the daily industrial processes. Sciences cannot thrive without humanities and neither can humanities thrive without sciences. Whereas scientific thinking is limited to the observable and empirical framework, humanities looks at the effects that the empirical procedures will have on the society. Essentially, science aims to answer questions which cannot easily be discerned while humanities is intended to promote man’s sustainability. Humanities are a symbol of empathy that prevails between human beings. Most of the scientific analyses seeks to assumes a general conclusion without necessarily acceding to the fact that there is a discrepancy in individual interest which cannot fully be described by the use of general axioms.

The article What is Scientism? by Thomas Burnett is a reflection of the role of science in humanity. From the analysis of the subject, it is clear that science limits itself to objectivity. It is not influenced by emotions but seeks to establish the nature of the universes as it is. This goal often undermines the ability to explore the human-inspired factors in the universe. Humanities encourage the analysis of factors in humanity that are not addressed by science. With regards to scientism, Burnett establishes that during the establishment of scientific reasoning, intellect provided the most critical element in analysis. Other elements of humanity were thought to impede the scientific process. Consequently, “Bacon and Descartes elevated the use of reason and logic by denigrating other human faculties such as creativity, memory, and imagination.” (Burnett, n.d.). The humanities, such as poetry and art, were relegated to a second-rate status. Overall, the article establishes that science cannot exist without humanities. Burnett predicates that ”Bacon and Descartes elevated the use of reason and logic by denigrating other human faculties such as creativity, memory, and imagination.” Thus, there is more meaning to life than the mere understanding of scientific knowledge. Science is thus not the only source from which human beings derive their knowledge. The article Science has limits; A few things that science does not do reinforces Burnett’s assertion. This article can be read a s a response to the article What is Scientism? It explores some of the faults in empirical thinking and the influences of the faults on humanity.

The role of humanities vis-à-vis science cannot be understated. As the article Science has limits: A few things that science does not do indicates, there are several segments of human life that are not addressed by science. Science indeed helps answer some of the toughest questions in the world today. The limits to what science can do are not easily discernible. Nonetheless, there are limitations to science which can only be addressed through the employ of humanities. Firstly, the article indicates that science does not make moral judgements. Essentially, the solutions emanating from the research process do not necessarily constitute the right ones on a moral scale. Humanities define the rightness or wrongness of an action or state of events in the society. Thus the role of science does not entail offering moral judgements but rather the description of certain phenomenon in the society. Thus, ”science helps us describe how the world is, but it cannot make any judgments about whether that state of affairs is right, wrong, good, or bad.” (Understanding Science, n.d.).

Similarly, science does not consider aesthetic judgements. To truly appreciate the beauty of life, a grasp of humanities is necessary. Some of the elements of life cannot be described through the use of science. Aesthetics such as art and poetry can only be comprehended if one has an analytical background that is enshrouded in humanities. For instance, history allows one to appreciate the revolutions that continue to take place in the art industry. Essentially, ”scientism restricts human inquiry” (Burnett, n.d.). The empirical demands of science do not allow deviation into the realm of emotions which is pivotal in understanding the structure of aesthetics. Artistic work requires the employ of both the emotional aspects of humanity and an understanding of the processes that go into the creation of a work of art. Alternatively, humanities is necessary for the comprehension of science since science does not inform one on how to use the scientific knowledge that they acquire. The efficient use of such information is dependent on one’s understanding of humanities. The a priori use of science can have negative consequences for the society since each discovery made by science can be used positively or negatively. For instance, science determines that the earth revolves around the sun. Nonetheless, it does not inform humanity on ways by which they can use such information to further their sustenance. In such a scenario, the study of history and social patterns becomes significant given that it offers one the opportunity to determine how the revolution of the earth influences the weather patterns and how such weather patterns may influence their economic and leisure activities. For instance, knowing that the month of June will be sunny given that it is summer, one may undertake to prepare for outdoor activities such as swimming – an activity that would not have been possible if one had limited themselves to the confines of science. Lastly, science fails to explain the supernatural events. For instance, it struggles to explain the origins of man. It further cannot verify whether God exists. The grasp of the supernatural can only be achieved through humanities understanding. Theology and philosophy provide some of the humanities that are pivotal in shaping the understanding of the supernatural elements of life. Science predicates that ”we are choosers” (Ismael, 2013). However, there are events in life which do not fall under the control of man. These events are thus defined through the use of humanities.

Conclusively, human can transcend the role that is played by science in human life. To begin with, given that science does not make moral judgements, humanities serve the purpose of maintaining order in the society by determine what is right from what is wrong. This objective clearly defines the parameters that are used to validate given actions which forms the basis of social functioning. Alternatively, we are only able to appreciate the beauty of life from the knowledge that we garner in the humanities field. The beauty of an art, the melody of a given tune and the ambience of poetry are all dependent on how well we understand humanity principles. Science impedes the initiative. The God complex provides on of the fundamental influences of the actions that are engaged by man. Science does not succinctly explain the role of God in the society and the origins of man. It does not explain the supernatural events as is explained by the humanities. Human beings need explanation for events which cannot be explained by science. Theology and philosophy are thus essential in placating human restlessness that directly results from supernatural events. The articles What is Scientism? and Science has limits: A few things science does not do capture the immensity of humanities in the society. Science is indeed a powerful tool but it requires the support of humanities. All the conclusions that are derived from scientific procedures can only be meaningful if they are channeled towards bettering the position of the individual in the society.

References

Burnett, T. (n.d.). What is scientism? Retrieved from http://www.aaas.org/page/what-scientism

Ismael, J. (2013). Why Science Will Never Replace The Humanities. Retrieved from https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/why-science-will-never-replace-humanities

Understanding Science. (n.d.) Science has limits: A few things that science does not do. Retrieved from http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_12