Humanities and social sciences – everything, everywhere, all at once

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it is critical that we recognise social sciences and humanities as indispensable for understanding the dynamics that shape our world, providing the essential “why” that complements the empirical “what” of scientific inquiry.

Science and technology tell us “what” can be done – for example, what vaccines can be produced with known science and technology; what speed and distance can be covered by electric vehicles with what level of reduced carbon footprint when compared with petrol-run vehicles; and what depth of underground construction can be achieved with extant engineering prowess, creating what capacity for housing, offices, and other infrastructure, just to cite a few examples. But science does not tell us why vaccines are embraced by some and rejected by others; why car owners are not rushing to convert to electric vehicles; and why technologies to build underground would not lead to housing shortages in land-scarce cities being addressed more rapidly.

Addressing these issues requires more than technological fixes; it necessitates policy interventions grounded in a thorough understanding of human motivations, social mores, economic dynamics, and cultural symbolisms.

Steve Jobs, at Apple’s launch of the iPad2 in 2011 said, “Technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields the results that make our hearts sing.” 

Qn: Consider the view that science solves all problems.