3 min read

Plato's separated soulmates: Art and Science

Why they should be reunited.

Around 2500 years ago, the concept of a soulmate already existed. Plato wrote that humans were once created as whole, two bodies unified into one being. Those beings were soulmates. Out of fear of their power, Zeus split them in half. Since then, the story goes: each half wanders the world searching for the other.

Why am I telling you this? Partly because I love the myth (even if I don't believe there's only one perfect person waiting somewhere, but that's another topic). But also because if we borrow the metaphor for a moment, if for a second we allow ourselves to believe in soulmates, then I am convinced: Art and Science are one of those separated pairs.

We tend to separate the two: 'Art is for the creative, the dreamer, the wonderer.' 'Science is for the logical, the thinker, the smart-pants.' Do you agree?
To me, this is nonsense. Science is incredibly creative. To pursue the wonders of the world, let's say the Universe, one has to dream big and wonder. The same way art explores a topic deeply and researches how to convey complex knowledge through accessible and intuitive forms. This form of knowledge creation is not as visible to everyone as a scientific paper, but it holds the same value (1).

Against our trained intuition, art and science aren't that different at all. Both are searching for truth. Scientists seek evidence and reality. Artists push audiences to think freely and see differently. They may use different tools but share similar values (2).

It makes sense Zeus tried to take them apart out of fear because together they are too powerful: For example, art communicates science in ways logic cannot. While educational materials may convey scientific processes clearly, art appeals to both intellect and emotion, helping us identify with complex ideas, expanding our horizons and seeing things differently (2). 
To separate them limits both: "artistic thinking" and "scientific thinking" aren't inherently different. Bringing them together has the power to inspire new research questions, change perspectives, and create novel methodologies which cannot necessarily be measured economically but are
essential for addressing complex societal challenges (1).

I want to end with a wish: let's unite the soulmates Art and Science. We shall be surprised by what wonders they will bring to us! ** The image shows a galaxy cluster I worked with during my Master’s in Astronomy. Looking at it creates a sense of wonder, inspiration, and motivation to keep researching - something no plot, number, or calculation could ever give me.


[1] Greaves, Sofia, Caterina Benincasa, Virginia Bernardi, and Adriaan Eeckels. “SciArt Collaborations at the Joint Research Centre: Understanding and Evaluating Transdisciplinary Innovation Beyond Economic Value.” Technovation 143 (April 15, 2025): 103229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103229. 
[2] Ede, Siân. “Science and the Contemporary Visual Arts.” Public Understanding of Science 11, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-6625/11/1/304. 
[3] Image from the VERTICO - Data Repository.” VERTICO Data. https://sites.google.com/view/verticosurvey/data Accessed 20 Nov 2025.

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