More Beautiful

An article in a September 2012 Guardian newspaper makes the case for, as its title describes, “Science is More Beautiful Than Art.” The point being made by the (science) writer is that science is bringing us ever more beautiful images, in the way of gorgeous and breathtaking photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, deep sea pictures, and recently-discovered exotic animals, for example. And, as if the photos are not stunning enough, he writes that science brings us mind-bending descriptions of quantum mechanics, insights into the wonders of deep space, and opens the beauty of the world of mathematics.

The article notes that, while art has traditionally demonstrated the beauty and higher workings of the human mind, science pushes our minds even further than art. It stimulates our imagination more.

I have pondered the point of this article in recent months, feeling a general sense of agreement, but still not quite buying it all. Given my science training and past research work, I have always had an interest in and sympathy with the sentiments of those who see lovely and charming things in science. I’ve always thought that science presents us elegant messages and theories—in the sense that they are both ingenious and simple. But science more beautiful than art?

Then it hit me a few days ago what my reluctance about the article is: I don’t think that science is what’s beautiful; it’s what science reveals to us about the natural world that is delightful and appealing. There is nothing in the realm of human accomplishment that can inspire awe in me like certain sunsets, the sight of a red cardinal at the birdfeeder, a Hubble Telescope image of a distant galaxy, the delicacy of a flower blossom, the breeze-induced sway of a large oak tree, the sight of Appalachian Mountain ridges receding into the hazy distance, and the graceful flight of a hawk.

Yes, human art can lift us up and thrill our senses, but it doesn’t hold a candle in my mind to the wonders of nature. For those who live in urban areas, it’s easy to become overly focused on the human species’ accomplishments in the various fields of art. I believe one can cure that bias by traveling to the country, lying back on the ground on a clear night, and gazing into the sky, or becoming mesmerized by the stunning colors of a sunset.