SCIENCE/MATH are better. It is common to hear undergraduates and recent college graduates preparing for a career in science complain: "I think I wasted a lot of time in college being forced to take humanities classes that had nothing to do with my area of study." By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. As a verb science My privileges do not cancel out the oppression I face as a woman. What's wrong with the world? The difference in annual starting salary between a humanities and a science major, for instance, is rarely greater than $5,000 per year on average. These fields of study don’t necessarily produce tangible goods and products, like STEM fields do. It’s simply a timely illustration of a far deeper trend, a tendency that is strong in almost all humanities and social sciences, from literature to psychology, history to political science. C. S. Lewis once said that education without values makes us into "more clever devils." My work and goals aren’t any less important than the non-humanities, they’re just different. Sign up for the Thought Catalog Weekly and get the best stories from the week to your inbox every Friday. Because we live in a patriarchal society that devalues femininity at every turn, it’s no wonder why the humanities are seen as less important than STEM, for two reasons: the method in which we learn and explore, and who ultimately ends up taking these jobs. But also get involved in your local private, and yes, even public schools. Never assume that the humanities are an optional extra, a bit of leisure-time fun, alongside the real hard-nosed human business of science, medicine or engineering. The values and ethical principles of a society are shaped by history, philosophy, art, language, literature … and of course by science, and its study is very important to get to know ourselves as individuals and as a society. Here are the earlier posts. Is there a solution? I’m not writing this to claim that the humanities and social sciences are more important than STEM, because that’s untrue and incredibly biased: we are just different. The STEM Education Coalition warns that 60 percent of employers are having a hard time finding qualified workers, and that of 65 education systems worldwide, American students rank only 27th in math and 20th in science. 2.Humanities are a branch of science that deal with the heritage and the question of what makes us human. I myself am privileged, growing up in an upper-middle class environment and being able to graduate with no debt, which is something I know is rare and do not take for granted whatsoever. In our society, we associate masculinity with discussion based around facts rather than emotion, truth being black or white, and objectivity. "Technical chops are just one ingredient needed for innovation and economic success," Zakaria says. Posted by: Negotiate. If faculty in the humanities and the sciences let our differences divide us, we will end up like Congress, so polarized that we fail both the planet and our students. Stronger Together Than Apart. Without the humanities, democracy could not flourish. And don't forget biographies of people who mattered, who made a difference. This could not be further from the truth. We cannot compare science and humanities because just as the humanities are unable to tell us about the reproductive life cycles of bacteria so to is science unable to define right and wrong. Construction of Scotland Class Reflective Blog. This is a serious matter. Humanities majors encourage analysis, critical-thinking, and a vast knowledge of various topics. Dedicated to your stories and ideas. | The Writing Expedition, Unique Holiday Gifts from Thought Catalog , Here’s How Not To Practice ‘White Feminism’ Even If You’re A White Feminist, This Is What Each Character From ‘The Wilds’ Can Teach You About Your Own Strength, My Identity Is Not An Exam: Passing The Race And Gender Test As A Trans Woman Of Color, A Story About A Woman Finding The Powerful Voice She Never Knew She Had, Deconstructing Whiteness And White Privilege, Explaining White Privilege To A Broke White Person…, http://thoughtcatalog.com/skylar-grogan/2014/02/the-humanities-vs-the-sciences-who-wins-out/. "No matter how strong your math and science skills are, you still need to know how to learn, think and even write.". Scientists and engineers should study arts and humanities to better understand what it all means to society and humanity. This field is something I’m incredibly passionate about, because gender, race, class and all other social systems shape our experiences as individuals. These majors look deeper into varied texts that affect media, culture, society, literature, and politics. In response to the first, some have argued that contrary to appearances, a humanities education will make you a better lawyer, businessman, get you a better job, make you better at public relations. By: Lindsay Mathieson Port Hardy Secondary School Port Hardy, BC : Is it better to be an art freak, a science weenie or one of those fence sitters? Why is abandoning the rule of law so dangerous. I think one of the reasons why humanities are considered to be “soft” and “less important” than STEM of “hard sciences” is because they are seen as a more feminine field of study. Here are four great questions that our friend Chuck Colson said that everyone must ask: Where did I come from? Check out their classes. The humanities include fields like ethnic studies, gender and women’s studies, philosophy, literature, and more. I’m not writing this to say which is better: STEM or the humanities, because they are like apples and oranges, they simply do not compare to one another. Sounds priceless to me. Given these tensions, we can no longer afford a three-way war between science, humanities and the general public. It is important for children to have experience with math, engineering and science. In the humanities we discuss nuances, emotions, and other things that are seen as feminine, with even our discussion styles based around the idea of consciousness raising. And make sure your children are reading books — good books, classics appropriate to their age. And THIS is why I study what I study. Report Post. Please click here to learn how. Add a New Poll Add to My Favorites Debate This Topic; Report This Topic; HUMANITIES are better. There's much to reply to and clarify, so let's have at it. (Photo: Shutterstock) Why we need social sciences more than ever For the first time, the Earth is being shaped more by humans than by nature. Humanities vs. Science/math Posted by: starjuliafranko. STEM is important, that’s how we get our infrastructure, our medicines, our technology and many more things we take for granted. It is not the major … She calls it a “silent crisis.” She adds, “The future of the world’s democracies hangs in the balance.” Nussbaum’s solution to fixing this imbalance is to encourage the learning of the humanities and show how important it was 80 years ago. While STEM subjects are necessary to our national well-being, subjects such as history, philosophy, the arts, and, yes, theology — which, after all, used to be known as "the queen of the sciences" — are vital to our spiritual well-being. Arts and humanities courses account for 59.3% of these students, while science, maths and technology-based courses weigh in at 40.4% respectively. I want to eventually be a professor. Here’s why the liberal arts could leave you better prepared for employment than you think. Look — STEM is great, even vital, but science and technology can't give us purpose, values, and real significance. In our society, we associate masculinity with discussion based around facts rather than emotion, truth being black or white, and objectivity. Because of these societal expectations, STEM is seen as a more valid field of study because it encapsulates all these things. To briefly respond to Mr. Katz's most recent comments, let me reiterate that I hold the study of humanity in the second-highest possible esteem, right after the study of God. Truly, man does not live by math alone. You may unsubscribe at any time. When the anti-intellectuals use ROI as an argument against the Academy, what they’re really talking about is student debt vs. the state of the economy. Facebook Twitter Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment. Anne Ringgaard. And while you're at it, take your kids to a good art gallery. There is no objectivity, everything is subjective. Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been divided into two competing factions, each believing it is better than the other, neither understanding exactly how the other thinks, and both working hard to demonstrate their worth. Eric Metaxas is an Evangelical speaker and bestselling author. Do you want award-winning journalism with a Christian worldview, delivered to your inbox? It includes a wider range of things one can study. | moon child. Martha Nussbaum has argued that it makes you a better citizen and so is crucial to the success of the polis. I just happen to know someone who wrote a couple of good ones on Bonhoeffer and William Wilberforce! This is because we develop our opinion of what is good and bad or right and wrong based on what we learn, are taught, and what we observe. […] Vs. Why do the humanities matter? Humanities students build skills in writing and critical reading. For some people like myself, going into the STEM field, while more fiscally rewarding, simply isn’t feasible. Because of these societal expectations, STEM is seen as a more valid field of … By all means. I want to help others in my local community. Without hard and creative thinking in the humanities, the human society in which you and I find ourselves may well go mad. But it is precisely because science is so powerful that we need the humanities now more than ever. But what about our moral and ethical security? I’ve been called a bleeding heart, not as a compliment, and every time I can’t help but wonder why is that bad? Humanities vs Science. Humanities are seen as feminine because a lot of times there is no “true” answer, and everything is in shades of grey. The result is the humanities are displaced … It’s something a lot smaller, and less tangible, but it’s what I’m passionate about. Yes. Do you have college students? Professor of law and ethics at the University of Chicago, Martha Nussbaum, discusses the downfall of the humanities. Medicines aren’t invented and the next Steve Jobs surely isn’t coming from a humanities background. We've all seen the studies showing that students in America are falling behind in STEM subjects — STEM is shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — and many in education and government are freaking out. The Thought Catalog t designed, neither are cars humanities vs. Science/math much... For further education if they take s.t.e.m plus special offers and good education! Skylar Grogan, February 12 2014, Thought Catalog people who work these! 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