"The arts deal in the particular, the individual, and the personal. While the sciences deal in the general, the universal and the collective." To what extent does this statement obscure the nature of both areas of knowledge?
Sanam Peshiman 11RK
Mr. Adams
Due Date: Sunday, 5th January 2003
TOK Essay One
"The arts deal in the particular, the individual, and the personal. While the sciences deal in the general, the universal and the collective."
To what extent does this statement obscure the nature of both areas of knowledge?
In examining the ways in which the statement "The arts deal in the particular, the individual, and the personal. While the sciences deal in the general, the universal and the collective" obscures the nature of both areas of knowledge, it is essential to examine the differences and similarities between both areas and determine links between the two.
"The arts" as referred to in the statement can be qualified into all subjects of a creative and imaginative nature. Literature, poetry, fine arts, theatre arts, movies and drama can all be qualified as "the arts." This is because all these subjects deal with the creativity and imagination of the human mind. All these areas of knowledge are sensitive to humans' emotions and their perceptions of their surroundings. The arts can be said to be the areas of knowledge within which Humans attempt to understand the world around them in a passionate and heartfelt manner, letting their thoughts run wild to produce works and pieces of an "artistic" nature.
"The sciences" as referred to in the statement can be qualified into all subjects of a practical and logically rational nature. Biology, chemistry, physics, zoology, psychology, botany and all their sub divisions can be qualified as "the sciences. This is because all these subjects deal with practical, every day matters that bring about theories which help us better understand ourselves and our environment. All these areas of knowledge are based on reason, and satisfy the human quest to answering questions of his own existence by providing clear-cut, reliable and proven facts that are the basis for theories which serve as these answers. The sciences can be said to be the areas of knowledge within which practicality, logic and rationality serve as the foundation to providing theories that enable Humans to comprehend their existence and their environment in a coherent manner.
In exploring both areas of knowledge with reference to the statement, it is necessary to first establish the history of differences between both areas of knowledge. In their fundamental explanations, as seen above, the arts and the sciences directly contrast one another. This brings about the traditional opinion of how "sciences" and "arts" are two completely dissimilar areas of knowledge and any links between the two can only be found as differences. Over centuries of dismissing arts and sciences into two completely different corners of knowledge, opinions have been formed, by humans everywhere into their deep consciousness about ...
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In exploring both areas of knowledge with reference to the statement, it is necessary to first establish the history of differences between both areas of knowledge. In their fundamental explanations, as seen above, the arts and the sciences directly contrast one another. This brings about the traditional opinion of how "sciences" and "arts" are two completely dissimilar areas of knowledge and any links between the two can only be found as differences. Over centuries of dismissing arts and sciences into two completely different corners of knowledge, opinions have been formed, by humans everywhere into their deep consciousness about the divisions between both areas of knowledge, as is reflected in the statement. In exploring the impact these opinions, and these set "rules" or separating both areas of knowledge greatly from one another have, on obscuring both areas of knowledge, it is essential to determine that they do certainly have basic differences in their fundamental explanations. There are many exceptions, which prove that the sciences and the arts are not simply two completely vast and different areas of knowledge. They are simply, as is explored in the crux of this essay, two different approaches, both of which need to be utilized to better understand and accept the different ways of knowing and different areas of knowledge, linking the two to provide a greater understanding into the theory of knowledge.
"The arts deal in the particular, the individual and the personal", is a statement that has it is own implications of truth. The arts like literature, fine arts, drama, do indeed deal in the particular subjects that are of special significance to the authors, playwrights or artists. For example, the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo created self-portraits, using herself as a subject to portray the emotions of insecurity, and self-perception that were of a special significance to her. She did not create paintings of her neighborhood cat, for example, as this subject did not particularly interest or enthrall her. It was the method of stretching her soul across a canvas and finding her own emotions in doing so, that were of particular interest to her. This ties in to the next point that the arts deal in the individual. Poetry, prose, paintings and drama are usually pieces of work that are created by the authors, playwrights or artists to put across a point. Arthur Miller, for example, who wrote many famous plays like "All my sons and Death of a Salesman", sought to put across his individual ideas and beliefs of society and it is norms and rules. This illustrates further, how the arts can deal in the individual aspirations of the "artists". Frida Kahlo's self-portraits also help to exemplify the fact that the arts deal in the personal. Her paintings are a very personal and unique, and this personalization is what appeals to art-lovers all over the world. Playwrights like Tennessee Williams, who wrote "The Glass Menagerie" or authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald who wrote "The Great Gatsby" also show that the author's personal experiences are often used as the focal point from which the plots and characters of the works build up on.
"The sciences deal in general, the universal and the collective", is a statement that also has a lot of truth in it. Scientific theories such as Newton's first law of force and momentum, or the theories behind the cell theory or atomic structure of molecules, all deal in general subjects that are essential in understanding the core of human life. The understanding of force, momentum, cells and atomic structure of molecules are generalized theories that help us to better understand our living environment. These theories are also universal, in that they apply to every human being, in any part of the world. There is not, for example, a different atomic structure of molecules amongst a tribal African group, or a Caucasian race. The same theories applied universally and innately to everyone, everywhere in all wakes of life and existence itself. This ties in with the point that the sciences deal in the collective as well, Science provides a shared and collective view of the way the world works, something the Arts cannot do, as the arts are more personal, they tend to provide different insights and viewpoints, rather than one collective one.
Along with the above implications of how the arts and sciences do indeed deal in differing subject matters and the ways of knowing in an "artistic" and "scientific" manner are quite different, it can be argued that the two areas of knowledge do often tie in with one another's ways of knowing.
It is important to note that, the arts may deal in the particular, the individual and the personal, it can also at times deal in the general, the universal and the collective. The example of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager who wrote a personal diary while in exile from the Nazis, which later went on to become a super best-selling modern classic that has been translated into 67 different languages, can be used to show this. While the diary dealt with the personal and individual subject of Anne's life and times, it also provided a general outline that teenagers all over the world could identify with. The fact that her book actually got translated into 67 different languages proves the fact that despite the book being very personal, and written of individual beliefs, teenagers, adults and people all over the world from all wakes of life somehow identified with this sensitive, charming and interesting teenager. This is despite the fact that, after almost 5 decades have passed, and The Nazis were a horror that are limited to textbooks and history lessons, people continue to universally and collectively embrace Anne's message. The message of hope, faith and perseverance. This is just one example of how the implications of the ways of knowing the arts range considerably.
In conclusion, and in my personal opinion, the statement "The arts deal in the particular, the individual, and the personal. While the sciences deal in the general, the universal, and the collective" does obscure the natures of both areas of knowledge in that, it limits the ways of knowing to a considerable amount. It is important to understand that in the theory of knowledge it is vital to understand that in any area of knowledge, there are many more ways of knowing than those that are apparent, established or pre-decided.
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