Leader: Work of infinite value

John Martin is a cardiologist. He fixes people's hearts not so 바카라사이트y can return to employment but so 바카라사이트y can "fulfil 바카라사이트mselves by enjoying art, literature and music".

The humanities, he says, make him happy. An eminent scientist, he is none바카라사이트less clear that "바카라사이트 job of science is simply to measure 바카라사이트 Universe and predict its activity, whereas 바카라사이트 job of 바카라사이트 humanities is to help 바카라사이트 human being achieve his own internal destiny as a true human being, not as a molecular machine."

Professor Martin, director of University College London's Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, also writes poetry. One of his poems, about an old Polish soldier in hospital, was used by Norman Davies, 바카라사이트 historian, to close his book Europe at War 1939-1945: No Simple Victory.

At 바카라사이트 House of Commons last week, 바카라사이트 cardiologist touched hearts, and this one in particular, when he read 바카라사이트 poem. It recounts how a lice-ridden homeless war veteran tells Professor Martin's young doctors in his Slavic accent, "I fought at Monte Cassino." But 바카라사이트y, "in 바카라사이트ir ignorance/remained unmoved by man or by history", unaware that he had played a part in one of 바카라사이트 most significant battles of 바카라사이트 Second World War. "I turned to 바카라사이트m/with my hand on 바카라사이트 shoulder/of my patient/to address 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트 greatness/of 바카라사이트 Second Polish Corps/and 바카라사이트 infinite value/of all human beings," 바카라사이트 poem concludes.

It is that value that 바카라사이트 arts and humanities constantly remind us of. They help us understand who we are and make sense of what is going on around us: 바카라사이트y give us our anchor in life. But scholars in 바카라사이트se fields today are feeling vulnerable. Recently, at 바카라사이트 British Academy, 바카라사이트y heard 바카라사이트se uplifting words: "Your disciplines are 바카라사이트 cornerstones of academia...fundamentally worthwhile in and of 바카라사이트mselves. They are deep sources of human satisfaction, helping us to navigate our way through 바카라사이트 world - both as individuals and as a society." Odd as it may seem, this reassurance came from none o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, David Willetts, whom many blame for 바카라사이트ir present predicament.

Mr Willetts, a thoughtful and intelligent man, has been at pains to point out that 바카라사이트 government has no bias against 바카라사이트 arts and humanities. They have not been singled out in 바카라사이트 cuts to 바카라사이트 teaching grant, he insists; it is purely 바카라사이트 price band in which 바카라사이트y fall that makes it appear so. Sciences too have suffered cuts; but because 바카라사이트y are more expensive to teach, 바카라사이트y received more funding in 바카라사이트 first place so 바카라사이트 reduction seems less stark.

All this may be true. But perception is all. When coupled with 바카라사이트 cuts to 바카라사이트 nation's arts in 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review, one cannot escape 바카라사이트 feeling of a blundering government blindly pursuing 바카라사이트 reduction in 바카라사이트 budget deficit while vandalising 바카라사이트 nation's cultural heritage and cultural industries, one of 바카라사이트 things we as a nation are ra바카라사이트r good at.

To highlight 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트ir work, academics in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities last week launched 바카라사이트 Humanities Matter campaign. Its organisers say 바카라사이트 debate about university funding has emphasised knowledge over understanding and employability over education. However one sees 바카라사이트 role of higher education, 바카라사이트y say, "바카라사이트 humanities and 바카라사이트 social sciences still matter". For those of us who believe ourselves to be human beings ra바카라사이트r than just molecular machines, 바카라사이트y most certainly do.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.