Humanities vs Science by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan : Summary and Question answers

 

Humanities vs Science by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan 

 Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a great Indian philosopher, teacher, and statesman. He served as the Vice President and later as the President of India. He was deeply interested in philosophy and religion and was respected all over the world for his knowledge. His birthday, September 5, is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India to honour his contribution to education. He was born in a poor family in South India and studied in different schools and colleges. Though he loved mathematics, he studied philosophy because of financial difficulties. Throughout his life, he worked to defend and explain Indian philosophy and religion to the world. He wrote many important books on religion, philosophy, and culture and received many national and international awards, including the Bharat Ratna.

 

In his essay Humanities vs Science, Dr. Radhakrishnan explains the importance of both science and the humanities in building a strong nation. According to him, science and technology are essential for national development because they help in industrial progress, medical advancement and economic growth. However, he clearly states that science alone is not enough. If science is not guided by moral values, it can become dangerous and harmful. Therefore, scientific education must always be supported by the study of the humanities.

 

Dr. Radhakrishnan identifies poverty, illness and ignorance as the main obstacles to national progress. He believes that these problems can be solved only through proper education. Education helps both the individual and the nation to grow. But he strongly warns that technical education without human values will create an unequal and incomplete society.

He explains that science gives knowledge and power, and it teaches people to think logically, remain open-minded, and accept new ideas without prejudice. At the same time, the humanities teach us about human nature, emotions, ideals and values. Through the humanities, people develop compassion, moral responsibility and a democratic spirit. Without these qualities, scientific progress will lack direction and purpose.

Dr. Radhakrishnan stresses that producing people who are both thinkers and technicians is very difficult but absolutely necessary. People must have imagination as well as scientific skills. He also believes that truth can be reached through both science and religion, because truth is one, even though the paths may be different.

Finally, he concludes that science and the humanities are not enemies or contradictory but partners. They complement each other. A complete education must combine scientific knowledge with human values. The true aim of education, according to Dr. Radhakrishnan, is to create individuals who are intelligent, morally responsible, compassionate, democratic in spirit and dedicated to the progress of society and the nation.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan explains that the three main obstacles that prevent national development are ignorance, disease, and poverty. Among these, ignorance is the most serious problem. If ignorance is removed through proper education, poverty will reduce and diseases can also be controlled. Therefore, education is the most powerful tool for national progress. The government has tried to achieve economic growth through Five-Year Plans with the aim of spreading education, reducing illiteracy, lowering disease and removing poverty. India has energetic people and plenty of natural resources. Still, the country is unable to achieve great progress because it lacks proper education in both quality and quantity. Only educated people with skill, direction, and social responsibility can transform society. Hence, education must be given the highest priority in national development.

Today, many students are attracted to technological education, and this is natural because it leads to employment and economic growth. Scientists, engineers, and technicians help increase agricultural and industrial production. One important aim of education is to help students earn their livelihood. However, Dr. Radhakrishnan strongly warns that technological education without humanistic studies is incomplete and dangerous. With scientific power, human beings can create a paradise on earth, but the same power can also destroy entire continents. Therefore, science must be guided by moral values. Science and the humanities must work together and should never be separated.

Dr. Radhakrishnan does not reject science. He accepts that science has great value. Science is both knowledge and power. It trains the mind to be disciplined, open-minded, tolerant and free from prejudice. It reveals the wonders and richness of the world. However, science mainly develops the intellectual side of human beings. It does not directly shape emotions, ethics and moral character. A person who only produces and consumes, or who thinks only scientifically, is not a complete human being. The overemphasis on science and technology has created serious danger, and history shows that great crimes against humanity are committed not by the uneducated, but by highly educated people who lack morality.

 

The humanities, on the other hand, teach us about human nature, emotions, ideals, values and aspirations. When students come to universities, the purpose is not only to gain technical skills but also to prepare themselves for nation-building. Universities must give students both scientific knowledge and moral understanding. Science is essential because it provides the necessities of life. But humanities are equally important because they help human beings understand how to live as responsible and compassionate individuals. Neither science nor humanities alone can give complete knowledge of reality. They only touch the outer surface of life. To become truly educated, one must also understand the inner spiritual nature of human beings.

The true duty of universities is not merely to produce skilled professionals but also to develop compassion, democratic values and human fellow-feeling. Indian spiritual traditions teach that every human being is sacred and divine. This belief strengthens respect for human life and equality. National education does not mean changing scientific subjects according to national borders. It means preserving and passing on the nation’s cultural and spiritual values. India is not just a piece of land; it is a living spiritual tradition. Indian culture teaches that there are higher spiritual laws beyond material science. A civilized society is one where the strong help the weak.

Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, Dr. Radhakrishnan says that education must give both knowledge and wisdom. Modern society is too focused on technical success and material achievement. But technology is meant to serve human beings, not to control them. Material progress must be used to enrich the human spirit. It is not enough to feed the body or train the mind; the human soul also needs care and nourishment. People must rediscover spirituality and the sacred values found in all religions.

 

Dr. Radhakrishnan also explains that there is no conflict between science and religion. Both aim at the search for truth, though they follow different paths. God is truth, and the search for truth is the search for God. The human spirit is greater than the machine and greater than matter. Science does not prove the power of matter over humans; it proves the supremacy of the human spirit. However, people must approach truth with humility and tolerance. Religious intolerance has caused immense bloodshed in history. All religions are valuable paths to truth, and no single religion has a monopoly over wisdom. True religion teaches sympathy, understanding, and universal love.

Finally, Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasizes that the real test of any government is how it treats the poor. Poverty, hunger, disease and lack of clean water are national shame. To solve these problems, science and technology are essential, and people must develop a scientific spirit. Superstition and ignorance must be removed. At the same time, people must also develop a strong moral responsibility toward the suffering poor.

 

He strongly rejects the idea that scientific culture and literary culture are separate. According to him, we often produce either thinkers without practical skill or technicians without vision. What the nation truly needs are people who are both seers and technicians—those who have imagination as well as scientific ability. Truth is indivisible. Whether it is scientific truth or artistic truth, the goal is the same. Imagination is vital for both literature and science. Ultimately, human beings must reshape not only the outer world through science but also their inner moral and spiritual world. 

 

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan explains that many people today believe they are scientific simply because they know how to use machines. We press a button and electricity works, we use a phone or a car, but we do not really understand how these things function or what deep scientific knowledge is behind them. We only know how to operate machines, not how they are created. Therefore, we live only on the surface of life, like mechanical robots, without understanding the deeper meaning of science. True scientific study should not remain superficial. We must try to understand how human intelligence discovered these laws of nature and transformed the world. If science is studied deeply, it will never separate us from human values. Instead, it will lead us to question the meaning of life and existence.

Dr. Radhakrishnan points out a serious problem of the modern age: knowledge is increasing, but wisdom is decreasing. Scientific achievements have given humans enormous power, even the power to destroy the world through weapons like nuclear bombs. While human control over machines, radio, television, and technology has increased, the human soul has not grown at the same pace. There is a dangerous imbalance between material power and moral growth. This is why science must be guided by strong values. Science is not separate from the human spirit; it is the expression of the human mind and spirit. Every person has a deep inner self that remains constant even when the outer world changes.

Dr. Radhakrishnan strongly criticizes the spiritual weakness of educated people. Many graduates pass examinations and get degrees but remain ignorant of the basic values of Indian culture and spirituality. They become educated only in a narrow technical sense but lack inner awareness and moral depth. According to him, a nation survives not because of machines, industries, or atomic power, but because of people who live by spiritual values and show ideal conduct through their lives. Such people represent the true culture of India. He reminds us that the highest form of knowledge is self-knowledge—knowing one’s own inner nature and soul.

He also explains that our education system gives too much importance to technical subjects while neglecting the humanities. This imbalance weakens moral character. Society faces great challenges like poverty, disease, and ignorance. Science has given us great power to solve these problems, but without values, this power can be misused. Therefore, science and humanities must work together. Education should aim at building a complete human being, not just a consumer, technician, or machine operator. While science improves living conditions, it is the humanities that give us values, compassion and social responsibility.

Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasizes that young men and women who come out of universities should not only be experts in science and technology but should also feel deep responsibility toward the suffering millions. This sense of service and moral duty mainly comes from the study of humanities. Though science has helped in building civilization, it has its limitations. It cannot explain the deepest mystery of life or the ultimate reality. There is a central truth that cannot be tested in laboratories or completely expressed in words.

He further explains that science and religion are not enemies. Both aim at the same goal—the search for truth, though they follow different paths. Knowledge does not belong to any single nation or religion. Therefore, people must practice religious tolerance and cooperate internationally for the growth of knowledge. The study of humanities helps people understand the true meaning of life and realize that truth is one and indivisible, whatever subject one studies.

Finally, Dr. Radhakrishnan warns that science without humanities and knowledge without wisdom can be dangerous. Mere accumulation of information is not enough. Education must shape both the intellect and the character. We must draw inspiration from Indian cultural values, develop self-awareness, and cultivate wisdom along with scientific knowledge. Only then can education truly benefit both individuals and society.

1. What are the three obstacles in the way of national development according to Radhakrishnan?

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the three main obstacles to national development are ignorance, disease, and poverty. Among these, he considers ignorance the most dangerous, because once ignorance is removed through education, poverty and disease can also be gradually eliminated.

2. What are the potential consequences of neglecting Humanities in education?

Neglecting the humanities leads to an imbalanced and incomplete education. It may produce technically skilled individuals who lack compassion, moral values, social responsibility and a democratic spirit, which can result in the misuse of scientific power.

3. Who can guide the world according to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan?

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the world can be guided by people who possess both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom. These individuals combine technical skill with moral insight and live by higher human and spiritual values.

4. Explain the term “God is Truth”.

By the statement “God is Truth,” Dr. Radhakrishnan means that truth is the highest divine reality. The search for truth through science, philosophy, or religion is therefore the same as the search for God.

5. Why does Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasize the importance of Humanities?

Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasizes the importance of humanities because they help individuals understand human nature, values, ideals and moral responsibilities. Humanities develop compassion, social awareness and a sense of duty, which science alone cannot provide.

6. What is the danger of science without ethics, according to Dr. Radhakrishnan?

Science without ethics can become a destructive force rather than a constructive one. The same scientific power that can create comfort and prosperity can also destroy civilizations if it is not guided by moral values and human concern.

7. What is the function of universities according to Dr. Radhakrishnan?

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the function of universities is not merely to produce technically skilled professionals, but also to create individuals with compassion, democratic values, and social responsibility, capable of serving the nation and humanity.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph each

8. Analyse the predicament of science without a moral compass.

Dr. Radhakrishnan strongly warns that science without a moral compass leads to a dangerous imbalance in human life. While science gives enormous power over nature, it does not automatically provide ethical guidance. As a result, humanity may advance materially but decline spiritually. This imbalance is clearly visible in the development of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear arms, which have the capacity to wipe out entire civilizations. The greatest crimes against humanity, he observes, are often committed not by the ignorant, but by highly educated people who lack moral responsibility. Therefore, without ethical values, science becomes a threat rather than a blessing.

9. What is Dr. S. Radhakrishnan's opinion about technological education without humanistic studies?

Dr. Radhakrishnan believes that technological education without the support of humanistic studies is incomplete, one-sided, and dangerous. Though technology helps in economic growth, industrial development, and employment, it does not cultivate moral character. Without humanities, students may become efficient machines but not responsible human beings. He argues that science can either create heaven on earth or destroy continents, depending on how it is used. Hence, technological training must always be balanced with human values taught through the humanities.

10. Analyse the ways in which we can remove the evils of society.

Dr. Radhakrishnan suggests that the evils of society—such as poverty, disease, ignorance, superstition, and inequality—can be removed primarily through proper education and a scientific outlook guided by moral values. Education must spread awareness, promote rational thinking, and remove blind beliefs. Science and technology should be used to improve sanitation, health, food supply, and employment. At the same time, the humanities must cultivate compassion and social responsibility. When both scientific development and moral growth go together, social evils can be effectively reduced.

11. Explain the common goal of religion and science.

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, both science and religion have the same ultimate goal—the search for truth. Their approaches are different, but their aim is identical. Science seeks truth through observation and experiment, while religion seeks truth through spiritual experience and faith. He states that since God is Truth, the quest for truth in any form is a divine quest. Therefore, science and religion should not be seen as enemies but as complementary paths to the same ultimate reality.

12. How can the integration of Humanities and Science in education promote responsible progress?

The integration of humanities and science ensures that material progress is guided by moral purpose. Science provides knowledge, technical skill, and power to transform the physical world, while the humanities provide values, compassion, and ethical judgment. When these two are combined, students grow into responsible citizens who use scientific power for the welfare of humanity. Such integrated education prevents the misuse of technology and promotes balanced national development based on both efficiency and humanity.

III. Essays

13. Examine the tension between the pursuit of scientific knowledge and the need for moral responsibility, as highlighted by Dr. Radhakrishnan. How can this tension be resolved in practice?

 

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan deeply explores the tension between the rapid pursuit of scientific knowledge and the urgent need for moral responsibility. He acknowledges the extraordinary achievements of science in transforming human life through industry, medicine, communication, and technology. However, he strongly cautions that scientific progress without ethical control can pose severe dangers to civilization. The same scientific power that produces machines, electricity, and medical miracles can also produce nuclear bombs and weapons of mass destruction. This creates a serious moral crisis in modern civilization.

 

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the central problem lies in the imbalance between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is increasing at a rapid pace, but wisdom—the capacity to use knowledge morally and responsibly—is not growing at the same rate. Human beings have extended their physical powers through machines, but their inner moral and spiritual development has not kept pace. As a result, science often serves greed, destruction, and domination rather than human welfare.

 

This tension can be resolved only through a restructured educational system that unites science and the humanities. Scientific education must be supplemented by moral training, ethical reflection, and spiritual awareness. Universities must not merely produce engineers and technicians, but also compassionate citizens with a sense of social duty. Students must be taught that technology is meant to serve humanity, not to dominate it. Furthermore, religious tolerance, humanistic values, and a sense of universal brotherhood must be cultivated.

 

In practice, this means applying scientific discoveries only for life-enhancing purposes—such as healthcare, education, environmental protection, and poverty reduction—while rejecting their destructive misuse. When science is guided by ethics and wisdom, the tension between power and responsibility disappears, and true human progress becomes possible.

 

14. Analyze the implications of Dr. Radhakrishnan's argument that science without ethics can lead to misuse and harm. What examples would you provide to support or challenge this view?

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s argument that science without ethics can lead to misuse and harm has deep and lasting implications for modern civilization. He states that scientific power is morally neutral in itself, but its effects depend entirely on the values of those who use it. Without ethical guidance, science can become a tool of destruction instead of a force for good. His warning is particularly relevant in the context of war, environmental destruction, and technological misuse.

 

The most powerful example supporting his view is the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Scientific research enabled the splitting of the atom, but its misuse resulted in enormous human suffering, long-term radiation effects, and the death of thousands of innocent civilians. Similarly, chemical and biological weapons, developed through scientific expertise, pose severe threats to humanity when used without moral restraint.

 

In the modern world, unethical scientific practices can also be seen in environmental pollution, climate change, misuse of artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and genetic manipulation without ethical safeguards. These examples strongly confirm Dr. Radhakrishnan’s warning that science divorced from ethics is dangerous.

However, science guided by ethics has also produced immense benefits. Medical science has cured deadly diseases, improved life expectancy, and saved millions of lives. Communication technology has connected the world. These positive examples show that science itself is not evil; the danger arises only when it is separated from moral responsibility.

Thus, Dr. Radhakrishnan’s argument remains highly valid today. The true solution is not to reject science, but to anchor it firmly in ethical values, human compassion, and social responsibility. Only then can scientific power become a blessing rather than a curse to humanity.