Science in Relation to the Humanities

Commencement Address, Windham College, Putney Vermont. (Pres. Eugene Winslow)

26 May 1968 (Charles Coryell is Trustee)

Linus Pauling

Science consists of our knowledge about the world, our effort to understand the world. The Humanities comprise our knowledge of man in relation to the world, our effort to understand man himself.

I might draw the conclusion that the Humanities constitute a part of Science. I think that this statement is only partially right.

Bertrand Russell has said that Philosophy consists of thinking about, speculating about, those aspects of the world about which we have not yet acquired knowledge; when we acquire knowledge about it that part of the world becomes included in Science, and the philosophers move on to other matters.

From this point of view I would say that the Humanities lie partially in Science and partially in Philosophy.

Also, we see what is wrong with Philosophy, as it is usually taught. It is behind the times - Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hume, Locke - their old speculations about some aspects of the world are so lacking in interest, in comparison with our present knowledge, that they are out of place now, except in a specialized course on the history of philosophy. Other aspects of the older philosophy (Henry Sidgwick, John Stuart Mill, etc.), especially dealing with ethics and values, are still full of life and interest.

I think that Science should be considered one of the Humanities - or the other way around. The separation between the two causes a great many people to be unhappy - to get less happiness out of life than they should. You young people especially - I hope that you are not woefully ignorant about a great part of the world. C.P. Snow in The Two Cultures said that scientists know something about the Humanities, but the Humanities often know nothing about Science, are really ignorant persons.

The satisfaction of one's intellectual curiosity can be a great source of happiness.

I hope that all of you young people can read the Scientific American with some understanding.

To know some mathematics helps. If you don't you have to rely too much on others.

Example now PULSARS.

The HUMAN BODY. Genetic. Dot on forehead. Sickle-cell hemoglobin. Hb Human, Gorilla etc.

The MIND and the BRAIN. Ephemeral memory. Permanent memory.

Korsakow's disease; inhibition of protein synthesis.

Science & Ethics. Principle of minimization of suffering.

WAR. U.S. 6% of population > 60% ownership.

3/4 of Vietnam = 22,000,000 people, $120/year average = $2,600,000,000 x3 = $8 Billion value of all property. (factor 4.7 for U.S. 3 for undeveloped countries) $100 Billion costs to U.S.

We destroyed $300,000,000 worth of N. Vietnam property at a cost of $900,000,000 in our planes alone shot down. WHAT SORT OF BUSINESS is this?

We are trying to stop the REVOLUTION of the miserably poor, the starving, the economically exploited people of the world, by use of our military might.

We say that we want to make the world FREE. Our greatest violation of freedom is the draft - we force young men to be murderers in an unjust cause.

In U.S. there is great injustice. Top 5% to 600,000. Bottom 5% to 40,000,000. 70 to 1 ratio.

In World 3.3 billion people live on $200 Billion/year, 10% of world's income. $90/year average vs. $270,000. 1 to 300.

Militarism costs > $200 Billion/year!

WHY DON'T WE USE SOME OF OUR WEALTH FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND?

I have confidence in you young people, who are revolting against the greed, the hypocrisy, the immorality of your elders. Apply method of science - discover the facts, be Humanists - concerned. I believe in justice, in morality; I believe that all men are created equal, that they are endowed