The sciences need humanities as a moral compass

ST FORUM
Dec 15, 2005
The sciences need humanities as a moral compass

I READ the Review article, 'The hubris of the humanities' (ST, Dec 8), on how the emphasis on the liberal arts at the expense of science is leading to 'skewed intellectualism' in America.

I could not help but wonder where we Singaporeans may be heading with the practice of 'streaming' our pupils in our educational system and our society's practical-minded preference for science as it opens the doors to many professional courses in our universities.

This is especially after reading 'Discovering the future history of Singapore' (ST, Dec 9) by Mr Koh Buck Song on why we should nurture the arts.

From my observation of friends who took the science and arts streams, I found that the two groups viewed each other with some puzzlement rather than mutual appreciation.

Those who went for science were seen as knee-jerk reductionists, amoral and tunnel-visioned, while those who opted for arts were viewed as polemical, impractical and rambling. There was a deep division.

Though we may not be in imminent danger of anti-intellectualism or falling behind technologically, our 'skewed intellectualism' should be corrected. It may make economic sense to instil 'artistic sensibility' in industries requiring creativity as Mr Koh has suggested.

However, there may be more to it than having a cultured technocracy. It is necessary to ensure that our citizens are brought up to be responsible and thinking individuals, able to contribute fully to the society.

Given the fast pace of change globally, not all decisions can be made unthinkingly, with reference to precedence or tradition. The sciences need humanities for a moral compass, and humanities need the sciences to escape from anachronism.

In enriching each other, they could also give humanity meaning as well as means for a sustainable existence. Yeo Chow Khoon

A good observation I think.