Historically, science and the arts have been viewed separately, but now we realize how they work together. To be successful in science, you need to be creative, to solve problems, maybe even think like a philosopher or an engineer. You have to weigh different possibilities to find the right solution. Creative thinking and careful evaluation are what drive scientific research forward.
The great philosophers of old might not have been called scientists, but much of today’s scientific thinking is built on their work. They were people who asked big questions like ‘how?’ and ‘why?’
One famous example is Archimedes, known both as a philosopher and a physicist, mathematician, and inventor. Kids in school learn the story of him jumping out of his bath and running down the street shouting ‘Eureka!’ after figuring out why the water level changed as he got in and out. That idea led to a major law of physics about how fluids work.
Carlo Rovelli, who is famous as a physicist and author, spoke at the Oxford Literary Festival in February 2023 about a major, though not as well-known, 6th-century Greek philosopher named Anaximander. Anaximander was the first to realize that Earth is a rock hanging in space. He came up with new ideas about how the universe formed and how life began. Even now, his thinking shapes how scientists see the world.
Carlo Rovelli is admired by many in the arts, including actor and director Morgan Freeman, writers Nick Hornby and Philip Pullman, and artist Antony Gormley. They are among those who respect his work.
Two giants from the Renaissance who also blended art and science were Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton. Leonardo, born in 1452, is most famous for painting the Mona Lisa and the fresco The Last Supper, but he was also an expert in anatomy, math, and engineering. Newton, born in 1643 just as the Renaissance ended, was a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who was well-versed in theology and biblical studies. His three big discoveries — gravity, the real nature of white light, and calculus — are why he is seen as critical to science’s progress from classical philosophy onward.
As innovators today, we recognize the value of learning from the great thinkers and writers of the past, their ideas, and their creative answers to questions about major events and how humanity has shaped our environment. The future of science will build on their foundation. Every year, we get so much insight from festival discussions—sharing ideas and viewpoints with respected experts in writing, science, innovation, healthcare, and medicine. We’re proud to show our appreciation by sponsoring the Science and Innovation award for a second year in a row.