Sweat and brains: A look into intellectual and vocational trends, and their importance

In 1959, C.P. Snow argued that “the intellectual life of … Western society is increasingly being split into two polar groups, “literary intellectuals” and “physical scientists,” the former concentrating on acquiring literary and philosophical knowledge, the latter immersing themselves in scientific study and breakthroughs. With each culture establishing its own goals and personalities, Snow posits that a dichotomy emerged. This divide reflects a tension between theoria and praxis deeply rooted in the Classical period manifested in the development of modern Euro-western universities. Meanwhile, vocational training has declined in favor of college preparedness with aspirations toward white-collar employment due to stigmatization of “hands-on” occupations and an over-identification with the white-collar class. This decline will only continue if vocational trades are not presented as a viable and respectable career options. Among the results are a shortage of trade practitioners and the separation of STEM professions from intellectual society. The two cultures can be seen as the extremes of one integrated educational community; with technical writing filling the void. Expanding technical writing practices into the sciences and technical vocations can provide more thoughtful service to a decaying infrastructure, create more opportunities, and introduce a more humanistic perspective into STEM education and practice.