Mechanical Arts

Description: is an obsolete and archaic term. In the 19th century, it referred to fields, some of which are now known as engineering. It was apparently an attempt to distinguish these fields from creative and artistic endeavors like the performing arts and the fine arts which were for the upper class of the time and the intelligentsia. It were also... ( +expand to view full text )

Description: is an obsolete and archaic term. In the 19th century, it referred to fields, some of which are now known as engineering. It was apparently an attempt to distinguish these fields from creative and artistic endeavors like the performing arts and the fine arts which were for the upper class of the time and the intelligentsia. It were also considered practical fields for those that did not come from good families. A related phrase, "useful arts," probably encompassed the mechanic arts as well as craftsmanship in general.