OT: science (was: brief survey)

Andreas Johansson wrote:


> Quoting Isaac Penzev <isaacp@...>:
>
> > > 4) Do you consider yourself a scientist?
> >
> > It depends on the definition of science and scientists. From my
perspective,
> > hmm, yes. From the Western viewpoint, rather, no.
>
> I don't think there *is* a Western viewpoint here.
Ok. I was probably, too hasty. I had in mind the fact that in English, the
borderline between 'science' and 'arts' lies in a totally different place
that I got used to, thinking in Russian (наука vs. искусство), where the
former includes both sts, technology/engineering/maths and various
humanities like philology, history et al., while the latter may be better
rendered with the word 'creativity'. I don't know if it is the same in other
European langs.
So, in a Russian mindset, music composition is 'art' while music theory is
'science'. I can bet I hear the phrases 'hard science' and 'soft science'
for the first time in my life. I beg your pardon if I offended somebody with
my words. I had no intention, really.

-- Yitzik