How The Humanities Enable Science

Science has two important yields: increased understanding of the world within and around us, and solutions to specific problems. But even the most profound scientific knowledge won’t solve world problems such as hunger, poverty, environmental damage, or even dinosaur attacks if we fail to respect, understand, and engage cultural differences.

All this considered, here are just some of the reasons why students pursuing science careers should enhance their education with a strong foundation in the humanities:

1. The humanities prepare you to fulfill your civic and cultural responsibilities.
2. Studying the humanities allows you to become familiar with and use the creative ideas from great minds outside of science.
3. The state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and techniques you learn in college have a limited shelf life; mastering the humanities provides tools for extending it.
4. Humanities strengthens your ability to communicate and work with others.
5. You will gain knowledge of foreign languages and foreign cultures.
6. The walls that exist among disciplines has been lowered and students can move across disciplines more freely.
7. Students can benefit from advice on which courses to take.
8. Humanities help you understand the impact that science, technology, and medicine has had on society and understand the future scientific needs of society.
9. Interdisciplinary learning adds value to one’s degree.
10. Humanities teach you that the supposedly sharp dichotomies that separate science from humanities do not really exist.

With aid from the humanities, those in scientific disciplines are better able to consider society’s needs, enabling them to carefully consider where he or she chooses to work, what projects they undertake, and what role it will allow them to play within society.

Want to learn more about the Center for Public Humanities and how the humanities are helping in our community? Click here.