Petrauskas urges society to preserve its humanity in the age of technology

People must reinforce their humanity rather than hand everything over to technology, says Vilnius University rector and historian Rimvydas Petrauskas, according to LRT. He argues that universities must maintain their authority as people face an abundance of information and competing claims to expertise.

Petrauskas began studying at Vilnius University’s Faculty of History in 1990, as Lithuania was restoring its independence. He recalls that the university was also changing after regaining its autonomy, and that the faculty’s dean, Alfredas Bumblauskas, introduced reforms that gave students more freedom to study and conduct research.

In Petrauskas’s view, the transition from school to university has changed little over the decades. Students enter a less regimented learning environment and study alongside people with similar interests, he says.

Access to knowledge, however, has changed substantially. When Petrauskas was a student, books were scarce in Lithuania, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, because ties with the West were restricted. For some books, he says, the only practical option was to travel abroad to find them.

Universities compete with a growing number of voices

Petrauskas says universities have long been associated with authority and expertise. They emerged both as institutions where students could learn from respected teachers and as a way for governments to obtain expert knowledge, he says.

Today, universities and other traditional institutions face challenges from a wider range of people offering answers and advice. In history, Petrauskas says, some assume that anyone can explain the past, even though historical accounts rely on research and broader context.

The range of competing opinions became especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, he says. Decision-makers had to consult specialists from different fields, while people who considered themselves experts also offered advice on vaccination and other decisions.

Universities should preserve their authority not only for their own survival but for the welfare of the state and society, Petrauskas says. Academics also need to explain their knowledge to the wider public, rather than limiting discussion to specialists. Researchers who devote their lives to a subject should be willing to help shape public understanding of it, he adds.

Petrauskas’s comments were made in an interview with the LRT Radio programme Tuzinas.