Artists, Scientists, and the Natural World

Yesterday we saw Carlsbad Caverns. This beautiful and interesting system of caves draws both artists and scientists to study its wonders. The former come to see and portray the stunning formations as they appear; the latter come to examine and understand these fascinating “speleothems” as they have developed. C.P. Snow observed that these two groups tend to inhabit two different cultures. But they can find common ground in their love for natural wonders. The artists help us experience them more fully and the scientists enable us to know them more deeply. A complete awareness of God’s creation requires both approaches.

Production and Reproduction

In Aristotle for Everybody, Adler says we don’t talk about producing or creating when we discuss childbirth. Instead, we speak of reproducing and procreating. So though people who have sex to have children are deliberately doing something for a purpose, they aren’t making or producing something together but instead procreating and reproducing. Hence, sex for conception is not a productive art. Is it a cooperative art (analogous to farming)? It seems not. The contribution of the couple to the outcome is minimal compared to the natural process involved. Successful farming requires more skill and more intervention than successful procreating does.