As Steven Pinker mentioned in the interview, there is an enormous gap between art and science. However, under no circumstance can we actually conclude that they are completely isolated from each other. Taking C.P Snow as an example, besides holding a number of positions in scientific department for the British govenment, he also enjoyed being a novelist and developing long term friendships in literary circles.
A page from Leonardo da Vinci's famous notebooks. One of the finest examples of an individual expanding mind to take in both science and art.
As an engineering major student, I spend most of my time studying science and technologies. We are trained to come up with innovative ideas that might solve potential problems in daily life.
However, this is not enough, no customer would buy product that has strong functionality but no sense of beauty.
This is the bmw i8, the plug-in hybrid supercar. From exterior to interior, and eventually to its power train setup, this car has numerous innovative technologies. However, most people buy this car simply because it looks gorgeous.
Sometimes people feel that they only appreciate either art or science but not both. This is usually due to ignorance. For instance, every kid think about being a painter one time or another. I used to have the same thought. However, my teacher in primary school told me that I have no talent in drawing at all, and to be a painter, for me, is impossible. Ever since that, I just simply ignored those things. After that I found myself good at math and physics, and now I am an engineering major student.
In the video, Adam Savage talks about how art and science are seperated and why it is important to master both aspects.
After studying this week’s topic materials, I become more convinced that art and science are two different carriers of human civilization. Meanwhile, they often intersect and collaborate in real life applications.
Sources
Art and Science: Both or Neither. Jordan Pitcher. 2014.
web<http://www.quantumdiaries.org/2012/06/13/23031/>.
BMW i8, plug-in hybrid super car. Alun Taylor. July 2014. web<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/15/review_bmw_i8_plug_in_hybrid_supercar/>.
Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.
Two cultures interview with Steven Pinker.
Hello, I enjoyed reading your blog, I had not thought about how Leonardo Da Vinci used science and art in his professional life. He is the perfect example of a man who used his creativity in these two fields to innovate. I agree with your description of how many people believe that they cannot appreciate both art or science. The picture of the BMW i8 is a good example of how engineering and art combine because car manufacturers must worry about the technology and beauty of the car. After reading the materials about the Two Cultures I also gained an appreciation for how science and art can collaborate in incredible ways.
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