Kinds of Questions

What Kinds of Questions are You Asking of Your Education?

The classic value of university education is human enlightenment, but there are different kinds of enlightenment. The kinds of questions we ask about the world produce very different kinds of knowledge of the world, engagement with the world, and careers in the world.

Let’s say you are examining some sort of gadget.

A physics grad would ask, “What forces and interactions are at work in this gadget?”

A mathematics grad would ask, “What equations describe the behaviour of this gadget?”

A materials grad would ask, “What are the properties of the materials from which this gadget is made?”

A chemistry grad would ask, “What are the bonding properties of the elements that constitute this gadget?”

These are questions of the natural or physical sciences.

But an engineering grad would ask, “How was this gadget designed and how does it work?”

A business grad would ask, “How much money can be made with this gadget?”

An education grad would ask, “How should I teach my students how to operate this gadget?”

A law grad would ask, “What laws regulate the use of this gadget?”

These are questions of the professions.

Meanwhile, the philosophy grad will ask, “How can we know truth about this gadget?”

The history grad will ask, “How has this gadget influenced the course of human societies?”

The literature grad will ask, “Why is this gadget symbolic, pointing to some deeper reality?”

The theatre grad will ask, “How can we depict a story about what this gadget has brought to human life?”

The psychology grad will ask, “How does this gadget affect human behaviour?”

The sociology grad will ask, “Who gains and who loses power because of this gadget?”

The anthropology grad will ask, “What impact will this gadget have on the life of the community?”

These are questions of the humanities and social sciences, which focus on people. They are important because, whereas the natural sciences explore our physical environment, and the professions engage our physical and social environment, the humanities and social sciences probe the mysteries and complexities of the human condition and experience.

They show us ourselves and others. They help us discover metaphysical and moral truths, and formulate individual and collective values. They teach us to question and improve the status quo. They provide the resources to recognize and combat various forms of oppression. They enable us to understand and contribute to intellectual and artistic expression. In short, they develop a cultural literacy necessary for Christians to be more enlightened and effective citizens of God’s kingdom.