HARBIN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Netizens are debating the value of a liberal arts education after a professor in northeast China's Heilongjiang province took to his microblog to claim that some liberal arts subjects are "detrimental to society."

Sun Wenjun, a professor at the Harbin Institute of Technology, posted a blog entry on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site, on June 24, referring to a friend's daughter as a "silly arts girl" for applying to be a history major at Peking University.

Sun added that people who graduate with degrees in philosophy, history and literature lack a "scientific world view" and could therefore be a danger to society.

Sun's post ignited a flurry of commentary on Sina Weibo, with netizens arguing over the merits of liberal arts, science and the humanities.

"The professor's view is merely a stereotype. Science majors may never apply their knowledge in everyday life, while liberal arts are more related to common sense, which has more practical value," wrote microblogger "xieshoumaohua" on Sina Weibo.

A blogger using the screenname "yangyin's world" said science education is more urgently needed by society, adding that it is easier for students with science degrees to find jobs than those majoring in the humanities.

In China, students end up tackling either a science- or arts-based curricula in the second year of high school. Those who take science classes usually don't study history or geography, while arts students give up physics and chemistry.

Science and technology have occupied a place of pride in the collective psyche of the nation, as the country's founders believed that industrial productivity was necessary to create a strong nation, with higher education intended to serve industrial development.

The tradition has been largely maintained, being passed on in the 1980s by late leader Deng Xiaoping and impacting government decision-making in the years since. At a time when China's economy is the second-largest in the world, economic development is still a priority for policymakers.

However, widespread complaints alleging a "moral crisis" in the midst of rapid economic and scientific development have led to many people calling for a more balanced educational system.

Analysts said the heated debate stirred by the professor's words reflects the public's concern about how education can be used to create a better society.

"Science is a double-edged sword that can bring about damage as well as benefits. There has always been a price to pay regarding scientific development," said commentator Lang Yaoyuan.

Lang said modern society is suffering from an existential crisis brought on by nuclear proliferation and environmental degradation. He added that liberal arts, especially philosophy, have the ability to "heal" people who are dealing with this particular crisis.

Wang Aili, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said those who have received a scientific education without a "humanistic spirit" behind it could be harmful to society, adding that an integration of natural and social sciences is the best way forward.