Almost all institutions of higher learning are Universities of which the premier program is “Arts and Sciences” or even more prevalent are stand-alone colleges of “Arts and Sciences”. Then there are Arts schools, and separately Science schools. Science has a proud sibling of Technology.
Expansion of Technology has cascaded exponentially in the second half of the Twentieth Century and shows little signs of fading, now well into the Twenty-first.
Many of us are now addicted to our laptop computers for receipt and evaluation of virtually all information, immediate, current and historical. Also, we largely employ the internet for banking, bill paying, and shopping, including comparative consumer evaluations.
As fantastic as Technology has become, one should reflect often technology is only the vehicle upon which Science and The Arts take us through the Journey of Life.
The education of my wife and myself made us primarily scientists and the pursuit of these professions have yielded significant rewards both to us and the larger community. Art enriched our lives and sometimes aided us, especially in the educational component of science.
Without our direction, our sons have chosen The Arts for their education and lifetime endeavors. Within family discussions, our sons propose, and ,sometimes, insist that in the BIG PICTURE, that art, not only is more important, but, moreover is a higher intellectual arena than is science and technology. The essence of this position is that the “evolution” of the human mind and spirit as well as our cultural development, has been driven and documented by artists. Science and technology is viewed as nice, e.g. cleanliness, protective shelter, clothing, improved and nutrition but these worldly endeavors serve the higher mental and spiritual activities.
Currently, nationally, there is a crescendo of heated arguments of, on the one side, faith based conservatives (who emphasize a traditional view the immutable value of the categorical intangibles of mind, spirit and the constraints of interpersonal and community behavior.) Science is not a priority of this group. This community of thought highly values art, but as I see it, art to them is primarily a tool with which they reinforce and promote their message.
On the other side of this argument are “The Progressives” which is a genuine historically defined group with a clear philosophical objectives including assessment and refinement of proposals for the improved pragmatics of the members of the community. Science, and its essential intellectual discipline, is a critical component for this group. Art is highly valued for its self-evident qualities, existentially, but is also employed to promote its goals.
All the current media seems to have been torn with, sometimes even to adoption of views, in reporting current events in terms of Right and Left positions. Although the steam behind these fights is political, the “end justify the means” basis of this activity is a great disservice to The Arts and Sciences.
This food fight between waring factions of post-development minds, bothers me less than the influence and confusion of young minds still in a formative state, whose substance has not yet gelled or solidified. Furthermore, it is regrettable for the discussions to mix the “apples and oranges” of our intellectual nutrition (Art, Sciences and Technology) and then insist that one must abandon one for another.
I see the success and values of personal relationships, families and nations as requiring the calm recruitment and repeated rehearsal of the cooperation of the three components of life cited above.
I have enjoyed sail boating earlier in my life. I see a happy relationship of the components of our partnerships and communities to be like the components of a sailboat. One needs the integrity of the hull to keep us afloat and the integrity of the rigging to move us. This is the Technology.
Next, one needs an energized spirit to power us to exciting speeds, with confidence and even a modicum of drama. This is symbolized by the Spinnaker sail where much of the thrill and excitement live. I put this clearly in the Arts Department.
As beautiful and inspiring as the sailboat is, any sailor, with ten minutes of experience, can tell you that your boat is a useless, nearly inert, collection wood, ropes and canvas without that which is hiding beneath the surface, the absolutely essential components of stability and steerage: the keel and rudder. This I claim for Science.
Polarized and fixed positions in the culture wars and politics are, at best, self-defeating. To cherish one component as superior, is terribly inefficient or destructive.
I trust everyone has heard of the parable of the nine blind men describing the elephant.
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