Beethoven said 'Only art and science can raise men from manliness to
godliness'.
It can be argued that the overwhelming consideration of our time is the
issue of people of different ethnicity, class, and culture learning to live
together peacefully in an overcrowded and often badly managed world.
For decades, artists of all stripes have been addressing this problem
by creating new and innovative forms that combine, mix, fuse, or
incorporate dramatically different, styles, tastes, viewpoints, and genres.
The mash-up, mixed beats in music, fusion restaurants, combined fashion
designs, and mixed media are popular examples. Similar forms exist
throughout the arts.
At the same time, scientists are discovering new avenues of commonality
in the vast reaches of the universe, fundamental evidence that connects
each of us within our species, that connects us with other species, that
provides a link to our common ancestor at the origin of life. There are
many examples that deeply link us to Nature.
So are we making progress in curbing fear and intolerance? Can art and
science shine a bright enough light to change the world? Perhaps. The key
is to promote ideas, creativity, and exploration.
The Chicken and the Egg 