OT: Science, art, progress, humbug (was Re: [Leica] yesterday's technolgy at retired dentists prices!

[Bob Walkden <bob@web-options.com>]

Hi,

> The philosopher and theologian in me loves to get people to say, "humbug"
> because I like to get people thinking about their presumptions and prejudices.

[...]

> Science, I think, does progress
> by building on what came before. Art doesn't. That's what makes them different.

Humbug. What makes them different is scientific method.

By 'Art doesn't." do you mean that

a) art doesn't progress, or that
b) it doesn't build on what came before, or
c) it does progress, but by other means than building on what came before, or
d) it does build on what came before but doesn't progress by it?

The most rudimentary knowledge of art history is enough to demonstrate
that art does build on what came before. Most major artists and art
experts would probably consider art history to be progressive, too.

- ---

 Bob