US NOBEL laureate Steven Weinberg turned a physicist’s eye on modern art yesterday for the benefit of students at UCD.
The professor, who was presented with the Literary and Historical (LH) Society’s James Joyce award, told a theatre filled with students that, in theoretical physics, “most new theories don’t work, and it would be healthy if people realised most new artistic ideas don’t work and we should not slavishly admire them just because they are new”.
Expounding his theory on the connection between art and science, Prof Weinberg said the work of theoretical physicists had to agree with observations and solve problems observed.
Much of what is found to be beautiful in art is produced through solving problems presented to the artist, he said.
Theatre survived despite the advent of film because we like to see how the writer deals with the problems of space and time.
He said a satisfying theory was satisfying because it gave the feeling that it could not be played around with easily. “That is a factor in art also,” he added.
But, Prof Weinberg said, one of the differences between art and his discipline was that theoretical physicists were working to put themselves out of business by searching for a theory to end all theories. Artists were not seeking a final symphony or poem, he said.
“The arts will go on as long as there is civilisation and I’m sure of that, because without them there is no civilisation,” he said.
Speaking at the presentation, Ian Hastings, auditor of the LH Society, said the prize was given to individuals who made a profound impact on the world. “I think Prof Steven Weinberg has been behind some truly astonishing scientific achievements,” he said.
“He has committed himself immeasurably to scientific endeavour and I think we all owe him a great debt and scientists for many, many years will owe him a great debt.”
“I have also written no poetry, for which you also owe me a debt,” Prof Weinberg responded.
