Studying humanities is really not the only key to leadership

http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2015/apr/05/letters-studying-humanities-leadership

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I was struck by the comment of “prominent public intellectual” Prof Sarah Churchwell in the article about the assault on humanities (“The war against humanities at Britain’s universities”, New Review) that: “If you look at the vast majority of world leaders, you’ll find that they’ve got humanities degrees. Angela Merkel is the only one who’s a scientist. The ruling elite have humanities degrees because they can do critical thinking, they can test premises, they can think outside the box, they can problem-solve, they can communicate, they don’t have linear, one-solution models with which to approach the world. You won’t solve the problems of religious fundamentalism with a science experiment.”

Is the professor really implying here that these skills would not have been gifted to these leaders had they not studied humanities? Are critically evaluating competing ideas, testing theories and conjectures against evidence, abstract thinking, problem-solving etc not essential skills in scientific education and thinking?

Perhaps we will not “solve the problems of religious fundamentalism with a science experiment”, but we’ll certainly not win the fight against major diseases, further uncover the laws of nature or, on a more humdrum level, create the next iPhone if armed with only a robust knowledge of Mark Twain.

Dr Andy Myles

Edinburgh

Tactical vote better than none

I sympathise with Philip Wood (“Election 2015: we need progressive politics, not mean, arid accountancy”, Big Issue), living as I do in the same constituency, a Tory/Lib Dem marginal. I have made my own compromise by reckoning that a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote against the Conservatives, increasing the odds of one fewer Conservative seat, and reducing the likelihood of a repeat of the coalition.

Whatever appetite my Lib Dem candidate has for a coalition will be beside the point when it comes to doing the maths after the election – though I would have preferred more of a distancing from what I believe will damage the Lib Dems nationally.

Parties that might more accurately reflect my views have no hope of winning here (I realise this argument is self-fulfilling), but I calculate that a vote for my principles is effectively a vote that won’t count and will help to return the sitting MP. This way, my vote may count.

So, having factored in all those compromises, I find myself – somewhat reluctantly – displaying a Lib Dem poster and aware this is a sign of more commitment than I really feel. On the other hand, to do nothing is not to remain neutral, and in this constituency is a granting of permission for more and unspecified cuts, sanctioning and starving the unemployed, and perpetual facing both ways over our future in Europe. Unprincipled? I hope not. Less principled than I’d like to be? Definitely. But those who decline to vote out of principle, or refuse to consider a tactical vote, do not necessarily emerge with cleaner hands.

Bill Evershed

Kidlington

Oxon

Let’s hear it for British builders

Rachel Cooke’s interview with Nigel Farage (Magazine) made some fair points, albeit that he is such an easy target, but I was disappointed that she repeated that old chestnut about the superiority of Polish builders over their British counterparts.

As the wife of a retired builder, who worked longer hours, and harder, than anyone else I know, in order to buy a house and provide for his family, I object strongly to this persistent myth. It’s true that Polish builders are prepared to work for lower wages and it infuriates me that this should be welcomed. It exploits the immigrant workers, who are often single men forced to live in overcrowded conditions because of their low wages, and at the same time it drives wages down for British workers who often have mortgages, rent and family commitments. The only people who benefit from this are the employers.

My husband is now suffering from many disabilities caused, at least in part, by years of backbreaking work in all weathers. While there are obviously bad builders, as there are bad workers in all sectors including, let’s not forget, journalists, to be told he is lazy and work-shy literally adds insult to injury.

Jill Rooney

Ashtead

Surrey

Interesting to read that Nigel Farage doesn’t listen to music. As Shakespeare puts it: “The man that hath not music in himself, or is not moved by concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils. The motions of his spirit are as dull as night, and his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted.”

Says it all really.

Norman Billingham

Brighton

Thanks, Eva, for baby sense

We would like to thank Eva Wiseman for offering an enlightened perspective on breastfeeding (“The pains and gains of breastfeeding”, Magazine)

and for acknowledging the fragility of birth.

Indeed, our baby girl may not be as successful and intelligent as her breast-fed peers but she is alive and thriving thanks to formula milk.

Emma Jane Aubrey and Martin Goodall

Cumbria