Science: Blessing or Curse?

Introduction:

Impact of science on humanity is undeniable. On the face of it, science and its inventions appear to be an unalloyed blessing. However, if we ponder a little, disturbing signs too appear.

How a blessing?

Effect on material well-being and mental attitudes; advantages of scientific discoveries in daily life – gadgets to remove drudgery, electricity, communications, transport, entertainment, computers; health – medicine, preventive and curative, control of disease and epidemic; industry, agriculture and economic development – improvement of means of production and productivity. As for mental attitude – scientific perspective banishes obscurantism and superstition; develops questioning spirit, objective outlook.

How a curse? Each of the blessings cited above has a dark side to it – a curse. Material well – being has led to crass materialism and consumer culture; discoveries of science have also produced weapons and means of destruction; use of scientific technological means of production and comforts has degraded environment, caused pollution; new diseases resistant to drugs keep coming up technological devices mean to for health field misused to kill – feticide, for instance; spirit of inquiry and positivism, if carried too far, can suppress essential humanity and actually restrict the free range of thought and imagination; gadgets and inventions can make man dependent and, in fact, kill his creativity.

Conclusion:

So, is science a blessing or a curse? It would do well to recall what Milton said in a different context – the mid is its own place, it can make a hell of heaven, or a heaven of it is man’s responsibility. Man can use it creatively or destructively, turn it into a blessing or get crushed under its curse.