Should Social Science Students be Required to Develop a Strong Background in the Natural Sciences?

Question

I have degrees in both, and have taught at the university level in both... And I do have an opinion. But my reason for asking this question is not to look for people who agree with me. I would just like to see some intelligent discussion of the matter.

The question arises, for me, out of the fact that to earn even a BA in most natural science departments, you have to take a wide array of courses in other sciences so that you can develop a more powerful, critical, appreciation of these sciences as well as learning to effectively communicate with fellow scientists. Yet, for example, somebody can go all the way through to a PhD in anthropology without even setting foot in a biology class.

Benefits? Risks? Reasons?

Answer 1

YES...

and vice versa!

Answer 2

I think so, yeah.

To Jon:

I think that your experience with the bio anthro class may have just been due to some bias on the instructors part. That's not what I've been taught at all. My professors have really emphasized that the nature vs. nurture debate is extremely flawed because it implies that it's either one or the other when in fact they work hand-in-hand.

Answer 3

yes, somethings naturally go hand in hand and some things directly and all indirectly effecteach other.  Without knowing the people and events happening in an area then how can you know, begen to guess or predict what has, is, and will happen to that invironment.  This doesn't just go for studying people it also applies to wildlife and weather.

Answer 4

Education is about challenging your perceptions and striking to achieve new parameters of understanding, right? Rote, sloyd, deductive reasoning, or the empirical method of study.  So which school of thought best suits your particular style of objective learning? Personally, I am of the old "hands on, hold tight, and sphincter clenched" school, myself.....but that is the best way to teach Nursing....interaction rather than book learning.