Richard Feynman - Ode on a Flower

More clips from the Interview @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/archive/feynman/...
Richard Feynman on the appreciation of nature. Video is from 1981 BBC Interview. The interview is also the subject of Feynman's book The Pleasure of Finding Things Out.

I have a friend who's an artist and he's some times taken a view which I don't agree with very well. He'll hold up a flower and say, "look how beautiful it is," and I'll agree, I think. And he says, "you see, I as an artist can see how beautiful this is, but you as a scientist, oh, take this all apart and it becomes a dull thing." And I think he's kind of nutty.

First of all, the beauty that he sees is available to other people and to me, too, I believe, although I might not be quite as refined aesthetically as he is. But I can appreciate the beauty of a flower.

At the same time, I see much more about the flower that he sees. I could imagine the cells in there, the complicated actions inside which also have a beauty. I mean, it's not just beauty at this dimension of one centimeter: there is also beauty at a smaller dimension, the inner structure...also the processes.

The fact that the colors in the flower are evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it is interesting -- it means that insects can see the color.

It adds a question -- does this aesthetic sense also exist in the lower forms that are...why is it aesthetic, all kinds of interesting questions which a science knowledge only adds to the excitement and mystery and the awe of a flower.

It only adds. I don't understand how it subtracts.

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• beauty
• flower

[Dyonethekiller]

I really like what he says in this because a lot of people say science takes the beauty out of things but I think science makes it even more beautiful

[biorobotmachine]

What Feynman said was absolutely true and moving.

[awcoman]

It is curious to me that Feynman's response is similarly essentialist, presuming that these views, opened as the are by the work of science, are unavailable to the artist.

[PedroBlogger]

Ever since I've learned that flowers are the plant's genitals, its beauty only grew.

[AngrySnarks]

I wonder if Dawkins was inspired by Feynman when he wrote Unweaving the Rainbow. Dawkins' refutation to Keat's jesting seems very similar to this.

[insomniacgrace]

Impressive thoughts. Ikaw na talaga! I totally agree with you. Indeed, the beauty that someone sees is available to other people as well. Although it might not be quite as refined aesthetically as it is. But still anyone can appreciate the beauty of a flower.

[sulljoh1]

@spoogegoat eh.  not their best.

[sulljoh1]

Keep unweaving the rainbow. The wonder will only keep growing.

[spoogegoat]

I'm sure Richard Feynman would appreciate Xkcd's cartoon #877 “Beauty”. :)

[ForgotMyName3]

@moebius432 Being an atheist doesn't give me credence, I just didn't want anyone to think I'm saying that because I dislike Dawkins' atheism. Yes, both are scientists, but different scientists attain different level of respect in their fields. Nobody would put Newton and Brian Green in the same level, and nobody should put Dawkins and Feynmann in the same level...