Surely You're Joking

In his book "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!", Richard Feynman discuss the differences between art as an artists sees it, and art as a scientist sees it.

He uses the example of a rose. Is it beautiful to the artist because of it smooth color? unique design? aesthetically pleasing array? What does an artist see?

For the scientist, is it beautiful because it has evolved to protect itself with thorns? because it is red, and bees pollinate more red flowers, and the rose wants to propagate it's race? is it beautiful because of it's golden ratio?

I am no art critic. I am a scientist. Those two statements are not necessarily the same. A scientist can be an art critic, and an artist can understand science. Most don't, but let's face it... the brilliant ones have, do and will. Why can't scientists return the favor?

I'm sure I don't know.

Here, I will try to bridge the gap. I hated art in high school and shied away from any artistic endeavor. I clung relentlessly to the safety of concrete laws, logical systems and the flow of a well-solved problem. College opened doors for me. I hope that here you will find doors to walk through.