Numerous appeals for collaboration…demonstrate a limited understanding of the depth of existing engagements between science and culture. Often, they ignore the considerable body of work specifically on the history and philosophy of science. They also limit the expertise of the humanities to questions of empathy, ethics and values. At the same time, just like Lachman, they mischaracterise scientists as devoid of the sort of “soft” skills that are often associated with the humanities alone.
The result is that the relationship is always one-way. The humanities are reduced to a service role where they work under the direction of the sciences. Rather than producing knowledge of their own, they exist merely to make the sciences seem more human. Because these appeals don’t understand what the humanities do, they also cannot suggest specific ways for the sciences and the humanities to collaborate effectively.
h/t Rob Townsend (@rbthisted)
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