The Divide Between Humanities and Science

The humanities have become increasingly siloed and distant from science. This book will address the reasons for this and the harm it is doing, and it illustrates ways to bring these endeavours back together that are beneficial to both disciplines.

Humanities are the cultural undertakings (art, music, literature, theater, philosophy, etc.) that set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Humanities teach us to think creatively, reason, and analyse complex situations. They offer practical skills crucial in professional settings, like critical thinking, empathy, cross-cultural acceptance, reading and writing skills, and clear communication. The humanities steer us away from xenophobia and toward understanding and empathy. They broaden our mind in ways that are healthy for individuals and society.

Recently, colleges of “arts and science” have been diminished. In the US fewer than 80 such programs remain in higher education (out of >4,000 US universities/colleges) with severe cuts of faculty and programs in the humanities. The proportion of undergraduate students studying humanities fell 30% between 2005 and 2020. Elected officials are advocating for elimination of state funding for the humanities. The great divide between humanities and science continues to grow. K-12 STEM and Common Core Standards discourage reading literature, and students arrive at college unprepared, lacking endurance to read long passages or write a proper paragraph. Some question the point of reading at all.

Today, few scholars work comfortably across science and humanities. This volume will express the views of some individuals who do so, producing creative works that express the nature of how a blending of these great human pursuits can be accomplished.