Arnold Kling writes about the continuing triumph of technologists over humanists:

The Kling thesis is that the project of the humanists is degenerating into an exercise in archaeology. It is a way to study where we have been. But it does not tell us where we are going.

Arnold paraphrases Will Wilkinson to define the terms:

a humanist arrives at understanding subjectively, through introspection and empathy. A scientist arrives at understanding objectively, through the scientific method.

One of his examples:

To a humanist, the recent war in Iraq had the potential to turn into a quagmire. To a technologist, such an outcome was highly unlikely, given the advances that had taken place in computer and communication technology in just the last ten years.

The question of the accuracy of smart bombs is for the scientists. Humanists who pronounced on that topic via introspection and empathy were misapplying their skills. But technologists who pronounced on the wisdom and morality of the war based on their assessment of the accuracy of smart bombs were also off base.

Are humanism and science equals, then? Nah. Humanism is broader and more fundamental. But not if you define it as “introspection and empathy.” That’d be like defining science as “measuring stuff.” Humanists, as I understand the term, don’t sit around looking inwards. Originally, humanism was a break from God-centered philosophies, asserting the magnificence of our capabilities as opposed to our feebleness and frailness in the face of our Creator. The term has come to refer to those who assert something like: 1) There is no external authority that settles all questions for us; 2) Human reason is not all that matters; 3) Human experience does not reduce to the physical.

If that’s an acceptable definition, put me down as a humanist.

And I don’t want to leave it at a misty-eyed plea for embracing both points of view. I love technology and want every child trained in the scientific method. Objectivity is one very important way of seeing the world. It has precedence in certain projects, and those projects are crucial. But it is just one stance we can take toward the world. Humanism, however, isn’t just one stance. It is what explains — and grounds — how and why we humans take different stances towards the world, including science.

Humanism rulz! We’re #1! We’re #1! Whooooo!

Categories: Uncategorized dw