The Scientist vs the Artist

There are really two groups of people I’ve experienced in my life. That’s reductive, but as a mental model, it has held pretty true. It’s an easy divide to see, and as we continue our exploration from the last article, where we discussed how AI is reshaping our understanding of reality, we’ll delve deeper into this divide and its implications.

STEM vs Liberal Arts

The Scientists vs the Artists

The Scientist

The Artist

Let’s start with the Scientist, driven to explore the deepest roots of our reality. And the depth to which they explore is a sliding scale.

For the record: I’m not narrowing the aperture of the Scientist to someone who works in a chemistry lab wearing a lab coat. Engineers are Scientists. Engineering practices are deeply rooted in the scientific method, guiding the core principles and approaches in the field. The engineer just operates at a higher level of abstraction.

A Scientist might study how electrons move through a material at the microscopic level, while an engineer uses this understanding as a building block for more complex systems. Throughout my career, I’ve navigated this spectrum of abstraction. I’ve learned the basics of electron behavior in MOSFETs during my college days, contributed to integrated circuit design at Texas Instruments, developed mobile applications for Toyota, and built cutting-edge AI applications at Microsoft. At each step, I moved from micro to macro, understanding not just components but whole systems and how they serve the user.

Electron flow -> Transistors -> Amplifiers -> Computer chips -> Circuit boards -> Electronics -> Smart technology

Low Level of Abstraction: Electron Flow

Medium Level of Abstraction: Computer Chips

High Level of Abstraction: Smart Tech

How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? If you want to build cool stuff in your garage using a bunch of random stuff you find at Micro Center, you’re focusing at a higher level of abstraction. If you want to study the foundations of theoretical physics, you’re at a lower level of abstraction.

But either way, you’re rooted in the physical plane of existence. You’re studying the external world around you through a series of experiments. You are trying to master the powers of the physical realm.

This is a foundational part of our society. Harnessing the power of fire drives our vehicles. Harnessing the wind allows us to fly through the air like a bird. Harnessing lightning powers our technology. My favorite description of computers: We melted sand down, put lightning in it, and tricked it into thinking.

Fire used to drive cars

Wind used to fly planes

Lightning used to power electronics

Water used to generate power

It’s crucial for us as a society to understand the world around us. The scientists play an indispensable role in this endeavor.

But what about the other group? What about the artists?

Join me in the next installment as we explore the world of the artist, diving deep into how they shape, challenge, and enrich our perceptions of reality.

Stay tuned. More to come.