Why science needs the humanities more than ever
A narrative has taken hold that science and the humanities are at odds. In universities around the world, investment in cutting-edge technologies often comes at the expense of retrenchment in philosophy, history, literature and the arts. Contraction of the humanities is presented as an unavoidable cost of modernization. But that ‘zero sum’ logic is flawed. As science and technology race ahead, the world needs humanities research to understand the reasons and implications.
My experience at ShanghaiTech University in China tells this story. Since its founding in 2013, the university has invested heavily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). And it has built the Institute of Humanities as a core academic unit.
The power that a liberal-arts education can have in a science-oriented institution is embedded in ShanghaiTech’s vision. Jiang Mianheng, the former and founding president of ShanghaiTech, has argued that a technological university must move beyond narrow career preparation and cultivate well-rounded people (M. Jiang Daedalus 153, 98–105; 2024). Higher education should not just develop students’ technical skills but also foster judgement, creativity, ethical awareness and character.
Today, the Institute of Humanities comprises more than 30 scholars working across philosophy, history, religious studies, and Chinese and English languages and cultures. Many members hold degrees from leading international institutions and about a dozen are international scholars who do not speak a Chinese language as their first language. One visitor described creating this vibrant environment from scratch in such a short period of time as nothing short of heroic. [Continue reading…]