issue176 【FF小组】by duyuan3377 第12次模考 最后一次啦

duyuan3377UID: 2415765

TOPIC: ISSUE176 - "The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."
WORDS: 544          TIME: 00:43:22          DATE: 2008-12-20 10:40:31

Science and art are very significant in the development of human society. Rerarding the function and purpose of them, the author asserts that the function of science is to reassure and that accordingly the purpose of art is to upset. However, in my opinion, the essence of science and art is much more significant than just to reassure and upset people.

First of all, when it comes to science, admittedly it reassures people by leading people to unearth the surface of the world and to look into the deep essence and principle of the core. In ancient times, people regard some natural phenomena, such as volcanoes, earthquakes and floods, as the power of deity. It is science that tells people the truth behind these mysterious natural phenomena, which happened just according to the natural laws. Science helps people to answer a lot of questions and doubts in daily life and to reassure people's emotions after giving them the reasons why something unknown before happened.

However, science fulfills its chief benefits by changing the way of life and thinking. Science gives us brand-new eyes to observe the world, brings about all kinds of technologies to improve our standard of life and change our mode of thinking. It is Galileo, who invented the telescope, that made people have the opportunity to realize our true position in the universe--the earth is revolving around the sun and we are not the centre of universe. It is Newton, who found the essence of various movements and put forward to the Newton Laws to describe them, that make it possible to calculate the orbit of planets and space flights. And it is Einstein, who established the theory of specific and general relativity, that made us understand the relationship between time and space. These great inventions and theories not only reassure us but also upset us, when Copernicus discovered that the earth is not the centre of the universe and people's brief was turned over.

As for art, there is no doubt that it brings about reforms from the old and stale tradition. At the same time, art also leads us to a state of peace and hope. Artists are always full of imagination, which has a power of turning over the old and establishing the new. What is more important is that art creates inspiration and passion and energy for people to live in a better state. For example, Beethoven composed wonderful symphonies, such as Fate and Hero, in order to express something valuable deeply in his heart. The Statue of Liberty, in the New York City, courage and inspire people with the American spirits of egalitarian, freedom and peace. In a word, art is not only to upset but to provide something valuable to harmonize some contradictions science cannot solve.

In summary, I cannot agree with the author completely because he holds on a narrow mind so that he fails to generalize the function and purpose of science and art from a whole and broad view. As a matter of fact, the function and purpose of science and art is far beyond reassuring and upsetting. With the development of our society, science and art both play their own indispensable roles to make great contributions to high level of society.