Do we learn more from the arts or the sciences?

... In areas of knowledge such as the arts and the sciences, do we learn more from work that follows or that breaks with accepted conventions? It is widely believed that science is the most successful form of human knowledge, and that it has developed progressively from its early beginnings in ancient Greece. Comparatively, the value of the arts is often held to be giving pleasure, being beautiful, or communicating feeling, rather than conveying knowledge. Kant's successor G.W.F. Hegel argues, however, "the value of art is neither hedonic, aesthetic, nor emotive, but cognitive, valuable as a source of knowledge and understanding".1 But as it is known, by its very nature, works of art cannot be easily understood by ones other than the creator. And, while scientists ultimately aim to root out facts, imagination is needed to float ideas. Thus the two areas of knowledge-the arts and the sciences- must be

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