Science and Literature: Distances and Approaches

Abstract

The Academy and other formal institutions that deal with knowledge tend to treat Science and Literature as distinct areas, each with very particular ways and methods of building knowledge. However, in certain aspects—perhaps the most important—both carry and disseminate their messages through the same symbolism and vehicle of communication, that is, the word. Both Science and Literature are useful, beautiful and edifying mechanisms, which can be used by the same person, in the same context or creative process, thanks to the proliferation of communication technologies, especially books, magazines, articles, computers and smartphones. In other words: these two segments are continuous or complementary, since all Sciences and technologies refer to reality, and this, in a broad sense, is an indivisible unit. This means that arbitrary divisions of knowledge help in the effort to organize studies, research and their products, but the established division is always compulsory and alienating, hence the urgent need for true interdisciplinary, considering that knowledge is one, with a universalizing character. This article aims to analyze the intricacies of these two areas of knowledge, drawing parallels between their construction processes and verifying the reasons for their distances and approaches over time.