On the Significance of Science and Art

For some, it is a four-letter word. But for Leo Tolstoy, "work" is one of the main reasons that we are here. The author and philosopher urges us to comply with the "eternal law of humanity" - to "labour with our whole being, feeling no shame at any sort of work". It's one in the eye for the idle rich and those who look down on low-paid jobs. And it is at the heart of a wide-ranging essay on the purpose of art and science. Parts of the book and Tolstoy's conclusions have been superseded by scientific advances, but much of it is almost prophetic. As we embrace working from home, portfolio careers and uncertainty, his thoughts retain their currency. Tolstoy weaves his thoughts on 19th century art and science onto a backdrop of thousands of years of philosophy. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world’s greatest novelists. Tolstoy’s major works include 'War and Peace' (1865–69) and 'Anna Karenina' (1875–77), two of the greatest novels of all time and pinnacles of realist fiction. Beyond novels, he wrote many short stories and later in life also essays and plays. In the years following the publication of 'War and Peace' Tolstoy - who was born to a Russian aristocratic family - had a spiritual awakening that made him a committed Christian anarchist and pacifist. His philosophy inspired Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.