08 Humanities and Natural Sciences

Published

2026-07-16

The Role of the Humanities in the Natural Sciences

The Humanities as the Generative Matrix for Many Natural Sciences

Natural philosophy (non-empirical) → Natural sciences (empirical)
E.g., questions of cosmic origins, material structure → concepts of “God” / “Creator”
E.g., Ancient Greek mathematics, physics, biology, etc.: questions of the arche (number, water, air, fire, atom, …)
- Democritus’ atomism → Dalton’s atomic theory in A New System of Chemical Philosophy
- Newton’s classical mechanics in Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica
- Book of Documents (physical geography), Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Han · Treatise on Geography
Since modern times: disciplinary differentiation, yet the humanities still give rise to new natural sciences
- E.g., psychology emerging from philosophy

A person without knowledge of Greek natural philosophy will find it difficult to make progress in modern physics.
— Werner Heisenberg, Physics and Philosophy

The Humanities Study the Methods of Natural Science

Natural sciences: “classified” knowledge, but they do not specially study their own methods
Study of method: philosophy; modern philosophy of science
- Reflecting on scientific development, investigating scientific methods
- E.g., philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of physics, philosophy of chemistry, …

The Humanities Explore the History of Natural Science

History – history of science (George Sarton)
- Enriches and develops the humanities
The study of the history of science should be a serious interpretation of human history and a vision of its noblest destiny.
- Enriches and develops natural science
The history of science continually purifies scientific facts and scientific ideas.

The Humanities Provide Normative Guidance for Natural Science

“Empirical” and “truth-seeking” → Truth, Goodness (ethics), Beauty (harmony, simplicity, symmetry, unity)

Among the many diverse sciences and arts that nourish human talents, I believe we should first devote all our efforts to those that concern the most beautiful things.
— Copernicus, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, Introduction

The Humanities Popularise Natural Science

Popular science literature

E.g., Laura Fermi, Atoms in the Family
E.g., Xu Chi, Goldbach’s Conjecture
E.g., Jean-Henri Fabre, Souvenirs entomologiques

The Influence of Natural Science on the Humanities

Natural Science Permeates the Humanities, Giving Rise to New Interdisciplinary Branches

Since the 20th century:

Mathematics:
- Mathematical logic
- Cliometrics (quantitative history)
  - Econometric models
  - Counterfactual models
  - Statistical analysis
Psychology:
- Jean Piaget: genetic epistemology
- Sigmund Freud: psychoanalysis

Major Revolutions in Natural Science Significantly Transform Modes of Thought in the Humanities

Environmental science → human position in the cosmos, human–nature relationship
- Since the Renaissance: humans as masters of nature, dominating and transforming it
- Now: human dependence on the environment, harmonious coexistence with nature
Computer science
- Relationship between the real world and the virtual world
- Computers and the human brain
Introduce perspectives from natural science; they supplement, rather than replace or discard, existing approaches

Communication and Exchange Between the Humanities and Natural Sciences

It is not enough to teach a person specialized knowledge. Such knowledge may make him a useful machine, but not a harmoniously developed personality. It is essential that the student acquire an understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good. Otherwise he – with his specialized knowledge – more closely resembles a well‑trained dog than a harmoniously developed human being. He must learn to understand the motives, illusions, and sufferings of his fellow men in order to acquire a proper relationship to them and to the community.

These precious things are transmitted to the younger generation through personal contact with the teacher, not – or at least not mainly – through textbooks. This is essentially what culture means and how it is preserved. When I recommend the humanities as important, I have precisely this in mind – not merely the dry specialised knowledge in the fields of history and philosophy.

Overemphasis on the competitive system and premature specialisation based on immediate utility kills the spirit on which all cultural life, including specialised knowledge, depends.

It is also vital that a valuable education should foster independent critical thinking in young people. The overload of young people with a multitude of subjects (credit systems) seriously endangers their development. Overburdening inevitably leads to superficiality. Education should be felt as a precious gift, not as a compulsory duty.

— Albert Einstein

--- title: "08 Humanities and Natural Sciences" date: 2026-07-16 --- # The Role of the Humanities in the Natural Sciences ## The Humanities as the Generative Matrix for Many Natural Sciences - Natural philosophy (non-empirical) → Natural sciences (empirical) - E.g., questions of cosmic origins, material structure → concepts of "God" / "Creator" - E.g., Ancient Greek mathematics, physics, biology, etc.: questions of the arche (number, water, air, fire, atom, ...) - Democritus' atomism → Dalton's atomic theory in *A New System of Chemical Philosophy* - Newton's classical mechanics in *Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica* - *Book of Documents* (physical geography), *Records of the Grand Historian*, *Book of Han · Treatise on Geography* - Since modern times: disciplinary differentiation, yet the humanities still give rise to new natural sciences - E.g., psychology emerging from philosophy > A person without knowledge of Greek natural philosophy will find it difficult to make progress in modern physics. > — Werner Heisenberg, *Physics and Philosophy* ## The Humanities Study the Methods of Natural Science - Natural sciences: "classified" knowledge, but they do not specially study their own methods - Study of method: philosophy; modern philosophy of science - Reflecting on scientific development, investigating scientific methods - E.g., philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of physics, philosophy of chemistry, ... ## The Humanities Explore the History of Natural Science - History – history of science (George Sarton) - Enriches and develops the humanities > The study of the history of science should be a serious interpretation of human history and a vision of its noblest destiny. - Enriches and develops natural science > The history of science continually purifies scientific facts and scientific ideas. ## The Humanities Provide Normative Guidance for Natural Science "Empirical" and "truth-seeking" → Truth, Goodness (ethics), Beauty (harmony, simplicity, symmetry, unity) > Among the many diverse sciences and arts that nourish human talents, I believe we should first devote all our efforts to those that concern the most beautiful things. > — Copernicus, *De revolutionibus orbium coelestium*, Introduction ## The Humanities Popularise Natural Science Popular science literature - E.g., Laura Fermi, *Atoms in the Family* - E.g., Xu Chi, *Goldbach’s Conjecture* - E.g., Jean-Henri Fabre, *Souvenirs entomologiques* # The Influence of Natural Science on the Humanities ## Natural Science Permeates the Humanities, Giving Rise to New Interdisciplinary Branches Since the 20th century: - Mathematics: - Mathematical logic - Cliometrics (quantitative history) - Econometric models - Counterfactual models - Statistical analysis - Psychology: - Jean Piaget: genetic epistemology - Sigmund Freud: psychoanalysis ## Major Revolutions in Natural Science Significantly Transform Modes of Thought in the Humanities - Environmental science → human position in the cosmos, human–nature relationship - Since the Renaissance: humans as masters of nature, dominating and transforming it - Now: human dependence on the environment, harmonious coexistence with nature - Computer science - Relationship between the real world and the virtual world - Computers and the human brain - Introduce perspectives from natural science; they supplement, rather than replace or discard, existing approaches --- # Communication and Exchange Between the Humanities and Natural Sciences > It is not enough to teach a person specialized knowledge. Such knowledge may make him a useful machine, but not a harmoniously developed personality. It is essential that the student acquire an understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good. Otherwise he – with his specialized knowledge – more closely resembles a well‑trained dog than a harmoniously developed human being. He must learn to understand the motives, illusions, and sufferings of his fellow men in order to acquire a proper relationship to them and to the community. > > These precious things are transmitted to the younger generation through personal contact with the teacher, not – or at least not mainly – through textbooks. This is essentially what culture means and how it is preserved. When I recommend the humanities as important, I have precisely this in mind – not merely the dry specialised knowledge in the fields of history and philosophy. > > Overemphasis on the competitive system and premature specialisation based on immediate utility kills the spirit on which all cultural life, including specialised knowledge, depends. > > It is also vital that a valuable education should foster independent critical thinking in young people. The overload of young people with a multitude of subjects (credit systems) seriously endangers their development. Overburdening inevitably leads to superficiality. Education should be felt as a precious gift, not as a compulsory duty. > > — Albert Einstein