"The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."

It is undeniable that both science and art have important roles to play in the place of human society. Art and science, have existed for thousands of years and will exist as long as there is human curiosity and inner impulses. From the early days where men first discovered fires and made primitive drawings on cave walls to the cyber age of today, both the artistic and scientific spheres has evoked a myriad of emotional responses from the discoveries they have made along the way. The topic statement proposes that the function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset and therein lies the value of each. It is true that science can provide reassurance and art can upset. However to place absolute values on either one is erroneous.

The purpose of science was to discover the mechanics and workings of the world around us. Man have long been curious about the environment around us, and sought to understand phenomenon like lightning or the movement of the stars. Science provides a quantifiable quality to many things in our lives. Many of the theories or formulas that we learn today are the product of the discoveries of our forefathers, and in that sense the function of science seeks to reassure us and provide us with a framework of understanding. Art, on the other hand, has a subjective quality to it and is the manifestation of the individual's emotion and impulses. Since individual emotions and impulses are not congruous, a difference in one's viewpoints and perspectives can create a dissonance which upsets the next individual. Each person expresses themselves differently and in art, sometimes one person's art can shock or offend another.

However, it is impossible to attribute absolute values to the functions of art or science, like saying the function of science is to reassure and the purpose of art is to upset. Science have provided reassurance, but there have also been many instances in history where science have upset others,especially during the emergence of new theories and ideas. For example, when Joseph Darwin produced his theories on human evolution, it elicited shock from the people and was even considered blasphemous. Even today, there are different schools of thought regarding his theories. Art can also upset as well as reassure. Religious art, as an example, have provided reassurance to people and their beliefs. Stained glass windows in churches were used to evoke feelings of awe and reverence. Music have been used to promote religious solidarity.

In conclusion, though there are some truths in the topic statement, it is illogical to place absolute values on the functions and purpose of art and science.