[OkashiAddict]

Well I was listening to the last episode of Brian Cox's radio show on BBC Radio 4, before it starts again in November. It's called 'The Infinite Monkey Cage.' The topic for this episode was 'Science vs Art'. Here's a link to that very episode, if you're interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01l04l1
Anyway, it was very interesting and all, and I really love these kinds of conversations but in all honesty, why are we even discussing this? Why do we have to choose? One of my friends likes both science and art but she says she's more inclined towards art and that people generally tend to be more inclined to one. She says that an artist cannot be deeply connected to science although they may like it. I don't agree with this. It just doesn't make sense to me. It's not as if they repel each other, like religion and science for example. They are in the end different, and so why would you have to choose?
Personally, I adore both, but my dream is to be a physicist. Although, I would not in the slightest mind if I were to become a writer or a composer! For me, I will study more scientific subjects in the future but art will always be intertwined with my soul. I'm not more inclined to the other because I don't see why I'd have to be—they're different. Fundamentally though, the same awe and adoration is there for both. That ingenuity and innovation is there for both, though in different forms, of course.
There's a doctor of Physics at my school but he teaches Literature and he literally loves it. I don't feel he's inclined or *belongs* to one of them.

So what's the point in arguing about this. In the end, we need both. It's not the case of theists vs atheists. There is no right or wrong answer. You don't live your life with either a scientific mindset or artistic. Because what the hell! I seriously don't. I'm scientific and artistic, but my career will be in the sciences I presume. Yet, I will never, lose that passion for art or that vast appreciation towards artistic value. It sounds crazy!
That's just me though. I'm really open-minded. So I suppose some people can't live a life with both of these things. Some aren't even interested in either (LOL)

Anyway, my main purpose of this relates back to the title.

Thanks!

EDIT: IRONIC THAT I'M POSTING THIS IN THE PHILOSOPHY FORUM XD I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY!

[MMoor18]

It's to do with which side of your brain is stronger, one side is more creative and one more logical, generally men have a stronger logical side and women creative, but obviously not always. Same with Art V's Science, you are generally a lot stronger at one than the other. I have a good imagination and could probably be an OK writer but can't draw or paint or sculpt for ****, can't play, read or write music either. But I can act well.

(I'm Science btw always excelled at maths and sciences)

[Shelly_x]

No idea. It used to be the case that academic people dipped their toe in every pond so to speak, however we seem to have this need to catagorise people nowadays.
I enjoy both.

[OkashiAddict]

Bump

[LinzyLoo]

I don't see what argument there is here either. They are not opposites. I see what the second poster means when he said that one side of your brain will be stronger so you are more inclined to one or the other, but it's not like your brain can only master one. One of my best friends for example has just finished her PhD in geology, but she is also an amazing artist. Her brother is also very creative and was studying at art school but has just dropped out to study maths instead. I study microbiology and like to think that I am very clear thinking and logical, sometimes too much so, but I am also extremely imaginative and creative (unfortunately just don't have the skill or ability to use it!) If I had to choose I would obviously choose science, but I don't think you have to pick one or the other.

[WhatsHisFace]

(Original post by MMoor18)
It's to do with which side of your brain is stronger, one side is more creative and one more logical, generally men have a stronger logical side and women creative, but obviously not always. Same with Art V's Science, you are generally a lot stronger at one than the other. I have a good imagination and could probably be an OK writer but can't draw or paint or sculpt for ****, can't play, read or write music either. But I can act well.

(I'm Science btw always excelled at maths and sciences)

You're right about the gender difference, however it is a myth that creativity and logic are in separate halves of the brain- we need all of it for both.

And yes, it is a silly discussion, as both are required. Logic and intellect is required to properly convey creative expression, and no pursuit of knowledge can begin without being creative enough to find out how to obtain your goal.

in my early life (before grade 10) I was strongly on the artsy side. The last few years has been a complete 180. So I think it's fair to say that nobody is destined to be stuck on either side of the fence.

[number23]

I have always loved english and maths, and was close to picking both as a uni course, so theyre not mutually exclusive

I also think both are equal and complement each other

[Id and Ego seek]

Computer Scientists, Linguists, Biologists, Architects, Theoretical Physicists, etc. must be pretty smug during these discussions

[Kiss]

I think things like this occur when people feel as if they can only do one thing. Take me for example, I do english lit and I am obviously inclined to the art side of things. But I personally don´t think I am good at maths; I never have been. That put me off anything logical for years - even now I envy those on the science side who can grasp those concepts yet appreciate art, as though they can do what I can do but I can´t do what they do. When that happens people feel insecure and tend to take a side because it makes them feel special.

I´m guilty of that - but that doesn´t mean that I hate science. In fact I find science fascinating yet I know that I can´t do maths which has always made me feel less intelligent compared to other people. One of my best friends does chemistry though and he and I discuss a lot of different theories etc. and of course I have to use logic in constructing essays/arguments or simply organising myself. So I guess its not really that I´m on any one side, I just feel sometimes that I´m stupid compared to those who do sciences. I know that isn´t true at all, because doing a science subject doesn´t guarentee you are any more intelligent than the next person, likewise with someone who does an art/humanity. But its just something in my mind which I can´t help but think at times.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

science is awesome, it's beyond awesome, it's the greatest thing human beings have invented without question, but our lives would be so much emptier without art. People argue about it because people like to feel superior, we like to lord it over other people, so pitting your subject against another one is just another excuse to do that.

[gingerbreadman85]

Science tells us WHAT we are, Art tells us WHO we are.

[iSoftie]

(Original post by gingerbreadman85)
Science tells us WHAT we are, Art tells us WHO we are.

This.

[OkashiAddict]

(Original post by iSoftie)
This.

Indeed.

[TheSophist]

Science always wins

[ekudamram]

Does no-one else see the beauty or art in a mathematical proof?

[hannah60000]

(Original post by Shelly_x)
No idea. It used to be the case that academic people dipped their toe in every pond so to speak, however we seem to have this need to catagorise people nowadays.
I enjoy both.

Very true I was mentioning this to my classmates the greatest minds in History were jacks of all trades but are known in a certain field more widely, for example Philosopher Descartes - Physician, Mathematician and Philosopher. What a Mind!

[cuckoo99]

(Original post by gingerbreadman85)
Science tells us WHAT we are, Art tells us WHO we are.

Thissss

[Hopple]

(Original post by OkashiAddict)
x

It's because of the funding, isn't it? If you cut the education budget, you can either cut by the same amount for each subject, or you can prioritise some over others, and sciences and arts are quite an easy division.

[miser]

Great science often requires great creativity. The scientists we remember for centuries also tend to have known artistic preference.

[OkashiAddict]

(Original post by miser)
Great science often requires great creativity. The scientists we remember for centuries also tend to have known artistic preference.

Indeed!