People often think science and literature are very different. Science is about facts, numbers, and logic, while literature is about imagination, stories, and emotions. But if we look closely, both use language to help us understand the world. As an engineer, I find it interesting how both fields mix reality and imagination in different ways.
Science Uses Imagination
Science may seem like it is only about facts, but it often relies on imaginary ideas. Numbers themselves are invisible—we cannot touch or see the number five, yet we use it all the time. Similarly, imaginary numbers, like the square root of -1, may sound strange, but they are used in engineering, physics, and computer science.
Think about gravity. We cannot see it, but we believe in it because of the effects we observe. The same is true for scientific theories. Newton’s laws worked well until Einstein introduced the theory of relativity. Science does not always give absolute truths; it gives models that work for a certain time.
Literature Reflects Reality
Literature, on the other hand, is often seen as made-up stories. But it can show real human experiences and history in a way numbers cannot. If we want to know what life was like in 1890s London, reading Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle gives a better sense of the atmosphere than a history book full of dates and events.
Another example is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It helps us understand racism and injustice in America. No equation or chart can explain human emotions the way stories can.
Language Has Limits
As an engineer, I know that language is both useful and limited. Science has clear words for precise things, but some ideas—like quantum mechanics—are so strange that normal words do not fully explain them. Literature, on the other hand, can be poetic and emotional but sometimes too open to different interpretations.
For example, artificial intelligence is a scientific topic, but science fiction books like I, Robot by Isaac Asimov help us think about its impact on society. Literature makes us feel the possibilities that science brings.
Conclusion: A Balanced View
For engineers and scientists, understanding both science and literature is important. Just like we use imaginary numbers in real-world applications, we should also recognize how literature shows real human experiences. Science builds tools and solutions, but literature helps us understand people and emotions.
Instead of choosing one over the other, we should combine their strengths to see the world more completely. Additionally, as engineers and scientists, we create products based on subjective feedback and emotional responses from real-world users. Understanding emotions is not just for literature—it is also scientific. The way people feel about a product affects how they use it, so emotions are an important part of design and innovation.