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Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

(OP)
Hmm, I wonder how this saying got started... Does anyone have any ideas?

State I think means, a state of being. Like solid, liquid, or gaseous states, the 'state' in state of the art seems to refer to a state of being or some kind of obtained ideal.

RE: Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

I thinnk the phrase was originally "status of the art" where art was in the context of something being "art before it became science".

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

(OP)
According to that link that ctopher posted, 'art' is referring to physics, engineering, mathematics, etc... Some kind of scientific discipline.

Well that makes sense then. :)

RE: Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

I think it might have something to do with the "creative" aspect of product development.

from dictionary.com
[quote}
state   

   1. A condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances: a state of confusion.
   2. A condition of being in a stage or form, as of structure, growth, or development

art
 High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty
[/quote]

Wes C.

RE: Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

In patent attorney jargon "the art", to me anyway, is knowlege; the know how of "the craft". There are many legal references in an engineering context to "previous art" and I take that to mean the particular previous art is known and therefore is "state of the art". A new invention goes beyond the existing "state of the art"

RE: Where does the phrase 'state of the art' originate?

          I found interesting rnd2's post about the "previous art" and, I would say, the well-established "good practice".

          Just for information, I add that here in Italy, we have the same expression: "lo stato dell'arte", where "arte" in Italian also means skills, craft, talent, craftsmanship, ability and/or corporation, guild (don't kow if that's the same in English...).
          The same root is present in the Italian word for handicraft, i.e. "artigianato".
          We also say "Impara l'arte e mettila da parte", i.e. (litteraly) Learn the art and put it aside...      

Hope this helps,                'NGL

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