The arts liberate but science enslaves. Discuss.

In analysing the validity of the above claim, society is reminded of the role the
arts and science in improving the human condition. The Arts have often been
described to evoke the purest of human emotions while Science is supposedly,
the treacherous weapon of malevolent destruction. In the post-modernist
period plagued with uncertainty, this question is indubitably contentious.
Nonetheless, it can be argued that the neither the arts nor the sciences
enslaves for both play an imperative role in ameliorating the human condition.
The arts liberate humanity by widening our scope of thought, that is, to think
for ourselves instead of merely following cultural norms like a mindless sheep.
Literature, a form of art, enlightens our minds by presenting alternative
perspectives in an eloquent way. In his poem, Dulce et decorum est, Wilfred
Owens evinces how one might not parrot pharisaic platitudes like, it is an honour
to die for ones country, after feeling the horrors of war firsthand or rather,
experience the odious effects of chlorine gas on ones body vicariously. Hence,
the arts are able to liberate us by broadening our perspectives and in doing so,
alter the zeitgeist and liberate our minds as a result.
In addition, the arts inspire goodness and therefore liberate us by
immortalising a moment of beauty, be it fictional or non-fictional. Through the
arts, we are able to appreciate the beauty of the human mind and of the
magnificence of lifes highest ideals. The eminent Italian renaissance artist,
Raphael captured the zeitgeist of the Renaissance in his fresco, The School of
Athens, by depicting the distinct branches of knowledge in the form of
prominent philosophers. Through this artwork, the common man is able to
appreciate the beauty of abstract thoughts as it encourages us to think for
ourselves what the purpose of life is. Therefore, the arts liberate us in the
sense that it accentuates one of lifes higher goals, beauty in the form of truth,
that is, the nobility of knowledge.
Moreover, the Arts encourage innovations by augmenting our capacity for
creativity and can therefore be said to liberate us from our imaginary
boundaries delineated for us by standard conventions. By stimulating our
emotions, the Arts allow us to surpass societal norms by inventing our own
paths. As Einstein so eloquently quips, Imagination is more important than
knowledge, imagination is the means to which the individual can transcend all

boundaries. One notable example would be Cubism, a style focused on the volume
and space of sharp structures within a composition. Pioneered by Pablo Picasso,
cubism was the defining feature of some of Picassos works which distorted the
human body to achieve an intended artistic effect. Because each individual has
different perspectives, each individual will view Picassos artwork differently
and in doing so, evoke his or her own self-understanding thereby liberating the
individual.
Additionally, the Arts can also enlighten us on critical issues concerning what is
morally right and therefore liberate our moral viewpoint. In the age of
enlightenment, one literary work of art stood out amongst the others. Candide,
a French satire disparaged religious intolerance, something which still afflicts
the world today albeit to a much lesser extent. The French novella, written by
Arouet, otherwise known by his pseudonym Voltaire, arguably influenced the
separation of church and state. Voltaire, through his literature, thought us that
morality need not be dictated by the church and that the bible can also be
interpreted by ordinary persons vis-a-vis the church. Thus, the Arts have
already liberated mankind in influencing key moments that ultimately led to the
degree of religious freedom we have today. Nineteen eighty-four, a modernist
and dystopian novel by English author George Orwell is further testament of
how the Arts have liberated mainstream culture. Censorship and surveillance are
key theme in Nineteen eighty-four, with Big Brother tyrannising the masses. It
depicts a dystopian world where children sell out their parents out of fear and
where the slightest facial expression can result in immediate arrest and
confinement. Nineteen eighty-four speaks out against obedience out of fear and
of collectivism. Indeed, western philosophers tend to advocate individualism
rather than collectivism. Hence, through the novel, Orwell is able to express his
views against collectivism and in doing so, unfetter the freedom of speech and
the freedom of fear.
Denigrators of science argue that while Science has unequivocally improved the
quality of life worldwide, science has, in the midst of doing so, mandated certain
norms by increasing our dependence on it. Take for instance, medicine: it has
incontrovertibly increasing our life expectancy. However, it is an all too common
phenomenon, that is, pharmaceuticals like Pfizer have repeatedly failed to
justify the ludicrous surge in prices for common medication like pravastatin or
HIV drugs. Patients suffering from HIV depend on such medication to sustain

their lives. Yet they may not be able to afford such drugs because of the
exorbitant fees. Hence, science can be said to enslave because we are too
dependent on them.
By the same token, critics have also posited that science enslaves as ethics
often comes into conflict with science or the pursuit of science. Consider stem
cell research involving the death of a blastocyst. The blastocyst is considered
by many, to be a potential human being. Thus, the destruction of the blastocyst
effectively results in the termination of a fellow human being. However,
utilitarianists will argue that the potential therapeutic applications of stem cell
research far outweighs the life of a few insignificant blastocysts. After all,
according to this line of argument, Peter Singer suggests that we will need to
treat all spermatozoa and ova as sacred.
Furthermore, the Arts, like the Sciences can also be used to enslave as the
Arts is a method to express supreme beauty in our mundane lives while science
is humanitys tool and convenient scapegoat for all of the worlds multifarious
problems. Hitlers propaganda posters show him surrounded by children with his
hands around the child. The strong light in the background is contrasted with
his physique which shadows over the children thus axiomatically deceiving
women to associate Hitler as a fatherly figure. Hence, through such agitprop,
women follow his rule subserviently.
Additionally, it can be argued that science and the arts must work in tandem to
liberate us and improve the human condition. The golden ratio is employed in
nearly all architecture to improve the aesthetics of the building. It represents
one of natures most beautiful and enigmatic ratios. In this sense, art is in
harmony with science in exemplifying the beauty of the human mind.
Furthermore, science allows us to experience the wonders of nature. It allows
us to experience the ultimate pleasure in life, knowledge and take delight in
knowing how insignificant we are in this gargantuan and infinite universe. Hence,
science can also be said to liberate mankind by increasing our wealth of
knowledge.
All in all, art comforts and infuriates, repulses and fascinates, inspires and
interacts The negative side of mankind, that is, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust,

Anger, Greed, and Sloth can be remedied by Art while science provides the
medium for humanity to ascend past our insignificant existence.