Hubris of the Chatteratti

Check out this article --- Cervantes vs Einstein

I have heard/read this type of argument more times than I care to remember - Schopenhauer, anybody ? ("Science can get along with talent but art requires genius")

So these humanities types think they're better than us math/science types. You know, just because they have a way with words. You know, because they can talk. And write newspaper articles to put down things they don't understand.

You know,.... where would we be without art ? Ans : We would die. Simon Jerkins-or-whatever claims he wouldn't be able to live without Quixote. Sad bloke! Sadder still that he has never felt the thrill of creative scientific work.

So if Einstein hadn't come along someone else would have constructed his theories ? Sure, but the same argument holds for Cervantes too. Of course it is unlikely that Quixote would be re-created verbatim but (as long as we're being pedantic) the same thing holds for Einstein's papers.

If only this Jerkins would take the time to understand math (just like we **bleeps** took the time to understand Cervantes) ... you know, at least so he can form an informed opinion about their relative importance or indeed decide if such a comparison is possible or meaningful or worthwhile.

Remind me to write sometime about another pituitary case - William "poets are the natural legislators of mankind" Wordsworth.