A very provocative question, so I DO hope it won’t provoke bloody murders! In order to find an answer, I would like to draw two pictures of two different worlds: a world without ART and a world without SCIENCE; then everyone will decide for him/herself.
A World Without Art
A man is lying idly on a sofa or in front of his/her PC. There is no need to strain oneself, everything is mechanized! There is also no need to go to a kindergarten, to school, to the University or even to work, because we have an electronic nurse-maid, a teacher-robot, electronic pets (a special thank to the Japanese) and we surely can earn money through the Internet. Life is comfortable, convenient, and as easy as anyone can imagine with lots of advanced gadgets! A man may live up to as many years as he/she wishes – it is possible now! You may easily spend a weekend on the Mars or Venus or even in the cyberspace; people can treat cancer and AIDS; public transport is totally powered by electricity; sun energy is used widely; all our shopping is done at the touch of a button; surgery is done using lasers; patients are able to consult a doctor via the Internet; smart wardrobes suggest us clothing according to the weather forecast (again thanks to the Japanese), not mentioning smart restrooms J, sending the results of our urinoscopy (or something else)) right to our doctor; … Do you like it? I may continue without stopping ))
But what are the reefs? Well, people don’t communicate with each other, people don’t think at all!!! Because any effort, mental is included, is obsolete… The world is shaped, we are just things controlled by robots. People don’t need any senses as they just don’t use them at all or forgot how to do that… A man lives according to some algorithm from the early birth, there is no such word as creativity or soul in such a world. A metal living without joy and colours… Do you like it? Hardly, I suppose.
A World Without Science
Will there be any? I’m afraid any disease may absorb Humankind if it doesn’t have means to struggle with it. Living in a cave, clubbing wild animals to death to provide food (as L2L team puts it), being afraid of any natural phenomenon and following the only law: “The strongest will survive”. Is that living we are dreaming about? Again, hardly, I dare say.
As you can see, both worlds are not quite what we expect them to be. The fact is a man can’t think about painting or music if he/she is hungry for example, or doesn’t have a place to live, clothing to wear on or if he/she is simply ill. Progressive technology should be a base of our life. When all our natural needs are satisfied, time comes to think about Art in all its displays. Art appeals to our soul, Science appeals to all the rest!J So, it is not quite correct to say that Art or Science is more valuable, we are to talk of good blending! Our life shouldn’t be too mechanized, when there is no place for thinking and simple enjoying a beautiful sunset on the one hand and it should be easy enough, so that we could live and not struggle to stay alive on the other hand.
To conclude, I would like to cite a poem of W.H. Davies “Leisure”, that reflects my viewpoint:
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, haw they cam dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
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