Is the stock market art or science?

"When bankers get together for dinner, they discuss art. When artists get together for dinner, they discuss money."

– Oscar Wilde

Once upon a time, Lorenzo de Medici praised Michelangelo for the quality of his craftsmanship. Il Divino replied to il Magnifico, "it appears as art only to those who have not worked hard enough to see the craft."

Every market participant has wondered whether the stock market was more of an art than science. The assumption behind art is the notion of innate talent. Some naturals are born gifted. Some aren't, and I am one of those. If talent is innate, then we mere mortals have to resign ourselves that we simply do not have it. However, talent is often an excuse for laziness. Michael Jordan was not a natural. He was thrown out of his basketball team, so he trained and would not go home until he landed 100 free throws. Landed 98? Oops. Do it again. This way, skills...