Art for State's sake?

[Birchy]

What does State of the Art mean? I'm too thick to work it out...

[Oneeyedvic]

Are you referring to Ars Gratis Artis - MGM's "logo"? - this is meant to mean Art FOr Arts Sake - in fact in doesn't the correct Latin is "art artis gratis" but this didn't look as nice so they changed it around.

[woofgang]

state of the art refers to the most recent and newest thing.eg "My mobile lets me make video calls....its state of the art" Is this what you mean?

[Quizmonster]

As Woofgang

12:42 Tue 21st Sep 2004

[Quizmonster]

Good grief! What happened there? The bulk of my answer just disappeared into the ether. Ah well, I can't be bothered writing it all out again, so - as my truncated response above indicates - I'll just say I agreed with Woofgang. What the hey!

[Birchy]

I mean "state of the art". I realise that it means "newest", but what's with the phrase? State doesn't mean new. And if "the art" can refer to a mobile phone, then I'm even more confused. Or can the phrase mean "Newest thing to drive with in a dangerous way"? Genuinely, the phrase doesn't make sense to me. Regardless of what it's meant to mean.

[rinkytink]

A literal translation of the phrase is "at the most advanced stage of development."

The way I see it is that 'state' should be seen as the current state or stage of a particular thing. So that particular 'art' or 'item' is at the highest stage or state so far.

[woofgang]

QM has just made my day....he agreed with me!

[Quizmonster]

Twice, in effect, ma'am! And in one thread! Actually, we've often agreed, surely?

[woofgang]

Yes and it always makes my day

[Quizmonster]

Your servant, m'Lady.

[Birchy]

Sorry to interrupt...thanks.