It sometimes seems that the whole world is obsessed with science and business. Science has certainly told us a lot about the world we live in, but artists, who work in the less tangible world of feelings and beauty, are still respected by many, if not most, people. In this essay I would like to suggest why this is the case by examining what arts can tell us of life that science cannot.
One obvious reason, I think, is that, whilst science has answered so many of our factual questions, it finds it much harder to answer our more philosophical ones. Artists have long been associated with religion and philosophy, either directly or indirectly. Leonardo da Vinci, famous for his scientific work (e.g. designing an airplane centuries before one was constructed), also produced ‘The Last Supper’ and other religious works, whilst art and artists cannot provide us with answers to philosophical questions, they can give people ideas about what those answers might be.
Artists also provide us with beauty. Most people hang pictures in their homes. Many photographers provide us with vivid images that we can even use as screensavers on our computers. Science is far less about beauty than facts. People like beautiful things and those who can create beauty, whether by using paint, photography or sculpture, are sure to be admired. Even when a work of art is not considered to be beautiful, it can still be considered creative. Again, most people admire those who are creative.
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