“The same age which produces great philosophers and politicians,
renowned generals and poets, usually abounds with skilful weavers and
ship-carpenters. We cannot reasonably expect that a piece of woollen
cloth will be wrought to perfection in a nation which is ignorant of
astronomy.”
Thoughtful, this morning, after reading that Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne quoted the 18th century philosopher David Hume in his
speech to the Royal Society. The above quote is from the essay
Of Refinement in the Arts, which
focuses primarily on the fine balance between luxury and morality in an industrious nation, but also considers the relationship between science and the arts.
"The spirit of the age affects all the arts; and the minds of men, being
once roused from their lethargy, and put into a fermentation, turn
themselves on all sides, and carry improvements into every art and
science."
I enjoy the idea that cloth-making is in some way related to the study of the stars. But I also like to remind myself - and possibly Hume felt this way too - that it works both ways between science and the arts. Not only is a more knowledgeable, more technologically advanced world one in which we are more likely to produce great art, a world where great art is produced is also one in which opening our minds to thinking creatively allows us to make great leaps in science.
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