In this week's episode of Science Saturday, John Horgan chats with philosopher Denis Dutton about his book, "The Art Instinct," which argues that our artistic values are due, in significant part, to biological adaptations dating back to the Pleistocene.
Next, John and Denis discuss sex and creativity, why there is no art of smell, and the appeal for highly abstract art.
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I guest authored a post for the ineluctable The Education of Oronte Churm, over at Inside Higher Ed. The good Mr.
In the old days, the words "art" and "science" did not mean the same thing they mean today, at least in academia. Today, unfortunately, they have almost come to mean opposites. You can't be doing both at once. Or, at least, that's what people who haven't thought about it much may think.
Dutton was on Colbert the other night and did really well, played along in a way that is rare to see on Colbert Show by any guest. You should find and post that clip!
Hey, thanks, Coturnix! It was a hellish experience, but at least I knew who Colbert was. My warm-up act, Paul McCartney, did not. BTW, out of character, Colbert is a lovely chap.
Denis Dutton
The clip is here.