Option 1: The Great Debate: Sciences vs. Humanities

There has always been a great debate between the sciences and the humanities. This debate has recently been renewed by psychologist Steven Pinker and Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic.

At the heart of the debate is how the sciences and humanities relate to one another; are they separate disciplines or interconnected?

In this discussion, view the following video of Wieseltier’s ideas on how the sciences and humanities relate to one another. Then read the summary article of the great debate between Wieseltier and Pinker.

• Video: Leon Wieseltier on the Value of the Humanities (3:27) (Captioned Version)
• Article: When Two Tribes Go to War: Science vs. the Humanities