Handicrafts, Encountering Modern Technology

This article aimes to emphasize certain points concerning traditional art , and to put forward a question. As the term” Traditional art” is rather ambiguous, first we try to clarify it. To do so, we propose an approach somehow different from one generally admitted. Thereby, we discuss the reasons why it is not so easy to give a definition of traditional art, islamic art in particular, specially from a historical point of view. That is why some specialists are willing to deny the existence of islamic art, as some historiens of philosophy seem to have the same attitude vis-a-vis islamic philosophy. Finally, encountering handicrafts with modern technology, we ask whether , in the light of traditional art, it is possible to speak of aesthetique regarding technological products : could a refrigerator be called beautiful; what about a washing machine or a car etc. ? In other words, how could we, with reference to traditional art, define an aesthetique for modern technology and, to speake in platonic terms,save it from the rudeness of the factory?