Poll Question:

There have been vast, devastating wars, great works of intellectual achievement and awe-inspiring works of art throughout the entire history of humanity. Indeed, a causal link between the two has often been speculated upon.

This is summerized, in one way, by the phrase:
"necessity is the mother of invention"
which is often used to explain technological and medical developments in times of war.

Furthermore, Orson Wells linked violence and art with his famous quotation:
"In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

Given the insight from these two opinions and your own experience with the nature of human beings (both individually and collectively), do you believe that violence in a culture is necessary for that culture to produce either great works of art or intellect?

Disclaimer: Please note that I am using the term 'intellect' to refer to developments in philosophy, engineering, science and the like. It is used merely as a convenient way to separate the two type of positive achievements (technology/philosophy and art). In no way am I intending to imply that great works of art do not require intelligence.

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