The convergence of the directions of natural-science and social-humanitarian knowledge-5

Problems of interaction of natural and human sciences

From the middle of XX century in the West, and then in our country there was a tendency to mutual opposition of natural and humanitarian cultures. The notorious lecture "Two Cultures", read in 1959 at the University of Cambridge by the famous English physicist and writer Ch. Snow (1905-1980).

I must say that the origins of this, if not oppositions, then at least the existence of certain differences are rooted, in fact, in the very nature of each of the named types of culture.

First, the natural science culture is connected, as it were, with the external material world, which requires its fullest possible knowledge, and the humanitarian culture is mainly directed towards the inner, spiritual world of man, contributing to his understanding and perfection.

Secondly, in the basis of any constructions of a natural-scientific culture, there are, as a rule, experimental methods, which in turn tend to use instrumental measurements and mathematical calculations. As for the humanitarian culture, the application of these methods is extremely limited, if at all, they can be involved.

Thirdly, the natural-scientific culture strives for the most objective reflection of the surrounding world, excluding the influence of the researcher on the results obtained. For humanitarian culture, on the contrary, the person is most important and his personal subjective perception of the surrounding reality.

Fourthly, in the natural science culture, human society, if considered, is only from the standpoint of the biological population. Humanitarian culture considers society as the most important and necessary factor in shaping the inner world of the human person.

Thus, the listed, as well as some other properties of the natural-science and humanitarian cultures allow us to state the presence between them of significant differences. But is it possible to talk about their opposition to each other, or even about mutual confrontation? Of course not.

In fact, the natural sciences and humanities culture undoubtedly complement one another, forming together a common, magnificent building of human civilization. As an additional intermediary link between them in cultural studies, the concept of so-called technical culture, which combines knowledge and achievements of a technical and technological nature, is sometimes used.

Being based on natural phenomena and laws, many technical solutions and devices have found application in the humanitarian culture, becoming in time its inseparable part. Such is the fate of book printing, the production of musical instruments, cinematography, radio and television.

Vivid examples of personalities organically combining in their lives natural sciences research and humanitarian creativity are such great representatives of humanity as Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), MV Lomonosov (1711-1765), AL. Borodin (1833-1887) and many others.

To be continued